Report on the Petrological Identification of Stone Axes from Yorkshire

Abstract

This is the first report by C.B.A. Group IV (Yorkshire) on the petrological identification of stone axes since 1962 when the group undertook to help members, in part financially and in part with organisation, to obtain sections and petrological identifications of implements in their possession. Some of the sectioned artifacts are in the possession of individual members but the bulk belongs to public museum collections.The programme was initiated by Mr D. P. Dymond, a former group secretary, and since 1964 has been continued by Mr Laurence Keen. A considerable quantity of axes remains to be sectioned. The rate of sectioning at present is about one hundred and twenty a year. Attempts by the writers to increase the rate of sectioning have been unsuccessful because it has proved impossible to interest capable technicians in the project. However, grateful acknowledgment must be made here to Mr E. D. Evens who has willingly arranged for the sectioning of virtually all the axes in the following Register. The majority of thin sections was made by Mr E. W. Seavill. The writers would also like to thank Dr F. S. Wallis, who has also kindly checked the geological part of this report, Dr D. W. Humphries, Professor W. F. Grimes, Mr J. Bartlett who has kindly made available for publication material in his keeping, Mr H. Coope, and Dr K. C. Dunham, who have made the petrological identifications.