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Edinburgh, Bell's Mills
Hoard, Socketed Axehead(S) (Bronze)
Site Name Edinburgh, Bell's Mills
Classification Hoard, Socketed Axehead(S) (Bronze)
Alternative Name(s) Water Of Leith; Dean
Canmore ID 52649
Site Number NT27SW 26
NGR NT 237 736
NGR Description NT c. 237 736
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52649
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 26 c. 237 736.
Three Late Bronze Age socketed axes which were found 12' below the surface when digging at the Water of Leith, near Bell's Mills (NT 237 736) were purchased for the NMAS in 1865 (Acc Nos: DE 17-19). Five others were found near them.
Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1868; J M Coles 1962.
Hoard, found 1865 in the Water of Leith, near Bell's Mill, Dean, Edinburgh. The objects were embedded in clay 12ft below the surface; above the blue clay in which the axes were found were 2ft of gravel and 5 ft of sand. Two more axes were found in 1865, but their whereabouts is unknown.
1150. (Socketed axe: Scalby variant of Gillespie type). Socketed axe, smooth surface, corroded in places, cleaned, badly trimmed, cutting edge incomplete. Length 88mm, mouth 27 x 30mm, cutting edge 56mm, weight 300 gms. NMAS DE 19.
1217. (Socketed axe of Meldreth type). Socketed axe, relatively smooth, sand encrusted on the surface, brown-black, trimmed, scratch marks on blade. Length 123mm, mouth 28 x 30mm, cutting edge 55mm, weight 295 gms. NMAS DE 18.
1375. (Socketed axe of Yorkshire type). Socketed axe, rough, sand patinated on to the surface, green (partly cleaned?), mouth incomplete, untrimmed. Length 89mm, mouth 26 x 29mm, cutting edge 45mm, weight 250 gms. NMAS DE 17.
P K Schmidt and C B Burgess 1981.
