NHER 6360 (Find Spot record) - Two Palaeolithic flint handaxes

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Summary

In 1947 a Palaeolithic flint handaxe was found at this location on what was then the cliff top. In 1981 a second handaxe was found on the beach at roughly the same location (the coastline having retreated since the time of the first discovery). It should be noted that this location is relatively close to where A. C. Savin found a handaxe in 1878 (NHER 6360). It is probable that all three objects were derived from the same deposit.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TG14SE
Civil Parish	RUNTON, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

1947. Stray Find.
Found on surface north side of the main road to Cromer opposite 'The Hedges' (J. E. Sainty's house):
1 Palaeolithic Acheulian flint handaxe. This handaxe was part of the H. Apling Collection in 1947 and was subsequently donated to the Norwich Castle Musem (NWHCM : 1977.124.3). Information from (S1).
This handaxe is probably one of the five from West Runton listed in (S2). This object is also noted on (S3) and in (S4), (S5), (S6) and (S7) although no additional information is given.

As noted by (S8) the location of this find is taken from an early NCM record map (S9). This site was previously on the cliff edge, but is now on the beach due to coastal erosion. This record was previously mapped as a point at [1].
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 17 July 2014.

September 1981.
Found by children when paddling, in roughly the same area as earlier find (now on beach owing to further erosion):
1 Palaeolithic flint handaxe, broken in half from tip to butt. 10.5cm long, now 5cm width. Dark brown flint with much iron staining. See sketch (S10).
Identified and compiled by E. Rose (NAU) 2 December 1981.
Information from (S8).
This handaxe is also noted on (S3) and in (S5), (S6) and (S7), although again no additional information is given.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 17 July 2014.

Associated Sources (11)

--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
<S1> SNF87255 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Palaeolithic.
<S10> SNF91913 Illustration: Smallwood, J. 1981. Sketch of a broken Palaeolithic flint handaxe from West Runton. Paper. 1:1.
<S2> SNF7911 Monograph: Roe, D. A. 1968. A Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites. CBA Research Report. No 8.
<S3> SNF92480 Record Card: Wymer, J. J. Wymer Index Card - Palaeolithic. Runton (West Runton).
<S4> SNF2850 Publication: Wymer, J. J. 1985. Palaeolithic Sites of East Anglia. p 25.
<S5> SNF3009 Unpublished Contractor Report: 1997. The English Rivers Palaeolithic Project. Regions 8 (East Anglian Rivers) and 11 (Trent Drainage). Wessex Archaeology. CR-2, No.12a; CR-2, No.12b.
<S6> SNF88238 Website: TERPS online database. Sites 22498 and 22499.
<S7> SNF81597 Article in Serial: Robins, P., Wymer, J. J. and Parfitt, S. 2008. Handaxe Finds on the Norfolk Beaches. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLV Pt III pp 412-415. p 414.
<S8> SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
<S9> SNF52555 Map: NCM. NCM Record Map.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (1)

FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 40001 BC)

Object Types (2)

HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 40001 BC)
HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 40001 BC)

Related NHER Records (0)

Find out more...(1)

Runton (Parish Summary)

Record last edited

Mar 8 2016 3:52PM