Accession No

1923.1078 B.10


Description

Bifacial flint handaxe. Missing chunk from centre of one face.


Place

Europe; British Isles; England; Bedfordshire; Kempston


Period

Lower Palaeolithic


Source

Ransom, William [collector]; Ransom, Francis [donor]


Department

Arch


Reference Numbers

1923.1078 B.10; 20


Cultural Affliation


Material

Stone; Flint


Local Term


Measurements


Events

Description (Labels & Markings)
DELETE
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (Display)
Label reading '20' adhered to object, possibly from display.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (Display)
DELETE
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Description (Labels & Markings)
Marked in black ink: 'KEMPSTON'
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (Field collection)
Collected in May 1882.
Event Date 5/1882
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card: 'Coups de poing, etc.'
Event Date 1923
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (Other)
1923.1078 was entered in the Accession Register as ‘Palaeos' Bedford[shire], as part of William Ransom’s collection given by his son Francis. The catalogue card lists 'coups de poing, etc.' but there is no indication of the number of objects associated with 1923.1078. At an unknown point after 1923 at least three objects from another collection - G.J.B Fox (now TEMP.00923-00925) - were erroneously marked ‘1923.1078’ but their correct accession number is unknown, if they were ever assigned one. Therefore it is by no means certain that all the other objects marked '1923.1078' are in fact from the Ransom Collection. However, the handwritten marks on 1923.1078 A.1-9 and 1923.1078 B.1-9 are very similar and may be by the same hand (although the spelling of Kempston varies between A and B) and, in addition to this handwritten mark, 1923.1078 B.9 has a label affixed that notes definitively that it is from the Ransom Collection (alone amongst the rest of the objects). Therefore it is likely 1923.1078 A.1-9 and 1923.1078 B.1-9 are probably all from Ransom. 1923.1078 C.1-6 all bear the distinctive markings from Sir John Evans' collection, but Evans and Ransom were known to each other (see Context) so this does not exclude these objects from also coming through Ransom. 1923.1078 D is marked in an entirely different hand and is perhaps the most uncertain as to being part of the Ransom Collection. Although it is unknown why or when this mistake took place, it may relate to the fact that all the material in question is from Palaeolithic Bedfordshire (see also 1923.1074).
Event Date 25/6/2019
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (Analysis)
DELETE
Event Date 25/6/2019
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Description (Physical description)
Bifacial flint handaxe. Missing chunk from centre of one face.
Event Date 20/5/2025
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


FM:326951

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