Findspot - Palaeolithic hand axe

1 About 30 years ago, at Tiddington, a large Palaeolithic hand axe was found at the above grid reference. The axe was found in the foundations of a house in an area of 2nd terrace gravel and the hand axe was probably a constituent of this terrace. The implement is made of light grey flint coated with an ochreous yellow patina. It is larger than most palaeoliths from the county and is fashioned mainly by bold flakes with strong negative bulbs of percussion. Its general flavour is of the Middle Acheulian, a little too dry for my taste. If so the artefact is out of context with the terrace deposit. The axe is, however, greatly worn. On the butt end, covered with chatter-marks, the patina has been removed and the sharply truncated skin can be seen clearly. Both sides are heavily water-worn and the cutting edges are grossly battered.
3 Noted by Ordnance Survey.