Wrought iron socketed axe head - view of all sides showing hollow socket
This complete Iron Age socketed axe was found at Courteenhall, Northampton.
The axe, which is in the style of a late Bronze Age, has a hollow central socket, into which the wooden haft (handle) was inserted. It is one of a small number of socketed axes made from wrought iron. It would have been made in a two-part mould with a sand or clay core to form the hollow socket. This type of axe was replaced with axes in which the haft passes through an eye, much like modern axes. It represents the transition from bronze to iron.
Around 800 BCE people in Britain learnt how to use iron, dramatically changing everyday life. Iron tools made farming much easier, and settlements grew in size. The Iron Age, around 800 BCE to 43 CE saw iron become increasingly popular. It was stronger and could hold a sharper edge and was more widely available due to plentiful iron ore.
During the Iron Age, the Celtic people spread across Europe, with many settling in Britain. By the end of the period, impressive hill forts like Hunsbury Hill in Northampton reflected the engineering, defensive and organisational skills of their makers. These may have been built as a defence against hostile neighbours or as status symbols for local chiefs. Hunsbury is a multivallate fort, with two or more defensive banks and ditches to confuse and repel attackers.
Number 16 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects Exhibition 2025
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