BRONZE AGE METAL AND AMBER IN THE NETHERLANDS (III:2) CATALOGUE OF THE SOCKETED AXES, PART B J. J. BUTLER & HANNIE STEEGSTRA Groningen Institute of Archaeology, Groningen, the Netherlands ABSTRACT: This, Part III:2B of the publication of Bronze Age metal and amber in the Netherlands, is the second part of a catalogue and evaluation of the bronze socketed axes in the Netherlands. We classify, list and map the socketed axes with imitation wings (without face arches); those with face arches (without imitation wings); those with imitation wings and face arches; those of Form Wesseling; and some others. Attention is given to questions of importation and regional production, to the existence of an ‘Ems-Weser’ or ‘Hunze-Ems’ axe-producing industry. A subsequent Part III:2C will display types, whether imported or local/regional products, represented by numbers too small in the Netherlands to have a distinctive distribution. KEYWORDS: the Netherlands, Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, socketed axes, types, imports, regional produc- tion, distributions, Hunze-Ems industry. 1. INTRODUCTION In many respects the classification here presented can make no claim to eternal validity. The socketed axe Previous articles in the series ‘Bronze Age metal families and types here distinguished are for the most and amber in the Netherlands’ have appeared in part also present across the modern borders; but in Palaeohistoria 32, 37/38, 39/40, 41/42 and 43/44. The general the state of publication in the adjacent areas is last part of the series to appear (Part III:2A) began not such as can provide an adequate, up-to-date over- the catalogue of the bronze socketed axes, with em- view of types and their interconnections. This condi- phasis on the types of relatively frequent occurrence tion will change with time, and then some revision will in the Southeast of the Netherlands and neighbouring inevitably be possible and necessary. We trust that this areas: especially the types Niedermaas, Plainseau, presentation will facilitate such a re-evaluation when Helmeroth and Geistingen. In this part, III:2B, we its time has come. continue the socketed axe catalogue. We present here Section 7 offers comments on the contents and ex- four socketed axe families, that are, each with its se- tent of the socketed axe industry and exchange net- ries of variants, well represented numerically in the work responsible for the products distinctive of the Netherlands (Table 2; sections 4, 5, 6 and 9): Northeast of the Netherlands. Section 8 offers notes on some of the ornamental – Variants, occurring chiefly in the East-Central motifs on socketed axes in the Netherlands and their part of the Netherlands, of a family with imitation connections. wings and without face arches (section 4, Cat.Nos 589–620, map 11); – A family with face arches and without imita- 2. NOTES TO THE CATALOGUE tion wings, characteristic for the Northeast of the Netherlands (section 5, Cat.Nos 635–679, maps For the purposes of this paper we consider the North 12–13); of the Netherlands to comprise the modern provinces – A family with face arches and imitation wings of Flevoland, Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe, and (section 6; Cat.Nos 680–712, map 14), also char- the northeast corner of the province Overijssel. To the acteristic for the Northeast of the Netherlands; middle-east of the country we reckon the provinces – A rather widely distributed family in the east- of Utrecht, Gelderland and most of Overijssel. The ern part of the country and the adjacent German West of the country comprises Noord-Holland, Zuid- Rhineland is partially identifiable with Kibbert’s Holland and Zeeland; and the south the provinces of Form Wesseling and related axes (section 9, Cat. Noord-Brabant and Limburg (Map 8). In general, the Nos 713–737, maps 16–17). northern and western coastal parts of the Netherlands Palaeohistoria 45/46 (2003/2004), pp. 197–300 PH45-46.indb 197 7-11-2005 14:34:03 198 J.J. BUTLER & H. STEEGSTRA Fig. 40. Number of socketed axes in the Netherlands database (as of March 2005) by major categories and by province. (Unk= unknown provenance). Note: The total for Gelderland includes eleven socketed axes attributed to Nijmegen, which are mentioned, without drawings, in early 19th century accounts (e.g. Westendorp &Reuvens, 1823), but are no longer traceble. Map 8. Provinces of the Netherlands and neighbouring areas: Fr. Friesland; Gr. Groningen; Dr. Drenthe; Ov. Overijssel; Table 2. Number of bronze socketed axes in the Netherlands, Ge. Gelderland; Ut. Utrecht; N-H. Noord-Holland; Z-H. Zuid- of some of the numerically most prominent types, by province. Holland; Zl. Zeeland; N-B. Noord-Brabant; Li. (Neth.) Limburg; AXT:wes = Type Wesseling and related; AXT:A = with face Fl. Flevoland. Belgian provinces: O-Vl. Oost-Vlaanderen; arches (no ‘wings’); AXT:Wi = with ‘wings’ (no face arches); Ant. Antwerpen; B Lg. (Belg.) Limburg. German Länder: AXT:Awi = with face arches and ‘wings’. Data as of March 2005. Ns. Niedersachsen; Nr-W. Nordrhein-Westfalen. Dot-dash line = Cf. Table 3. national boundary; dotted line = provincial boundary. Table 3. Number of flat axes (AXF), low flanged axes (AXI), high flanged axes (AXR), stopridge axes (AXS), palstaves (AXP), winged axes (AXW), and socketed axes (AXT) in the Netherlands. UNK here includes specimens only vaguely provenanced, i.e. (mostly presumed) province only. Updates (as of March 2005), Part III:2A, p. 264, Table 1. PH45-46.indb 198 7-11-2005 14:34:05 Bronze Age metal and amber in the Netherlands (III:2B) 199 Seddin/Karbow; wes = Type Wesseling. Abbreviations for museums and organizations: BAI = Biologisch-Archeologisch Instituut (now Groningen Institute of Archaeology); RMO = Rijksmuseum van Oudheden; ROB = Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek. References to literature frequently include the term Verslag or Jaarverslag. This refers to the Annual Report of the museum concerned. Other literature citations are located in section 11 below. A catalogue number preceded by Ki indicates a reference to the catalogue of Kibbert (1984); Ku of Kuśnierz (1998); Ta of Tackenberg (1971). 2.1. Glossary of typology and terminology (fig. 41) In the descriptions of the socketed axes here pre- sented, the terminology is in part non-standard. Here we explain briefly the terms we use that may require clarification. We explain herewith also a series of non- standard abbreviations which we have occasionally employed in the text and catalogue below in an effort to reduce the burden on writers and readers of lengthy descriptions. The method is simply to replace, where possible, descriptive adjectives with graphic symbols Map 9. All socketed axes in the Netherlands. available on the standard keyboard. Collar: the thickened moulding surrounding the mouth opening. It can vary in form: [__] flattened as are (despite other types of evidence for occupation on in fig. 41:12, (__) bulging as in fig. 41:13; \__/ fun- sand ridges that thread their way through the areas of nel as in fig. 41:14; /__\ conical as in fig. 41:15; < > peat and clay) extremely poor in socketed axes, as biconical as in fig. 41:16; <__> stepped biconical as in with all other types of bronze axes (Map 9; Table 3). fig. 41:17; trumpet-shaped as in fig. 41:20. The collar Besides the catalogue number heading the entry for can be decorated with a rim (fig. 41:18) or with a facet each object, we cite in brackets a DB number, which (fig. 41:19). identifies the object in our computer database. This Socket mouth formula: follows the formula a–a×b– will prove to be a convenience for cross-referencing. b; c–c×d–d; where a–a gives the width and b–b the The following ABC will explain the code as it breadth of the collar, and c–c the width and d–d the is here employed. In Part II:1, II:2, III:1 and III:2A breadth of the mouth opening. we have already used AXF for flat axe, AXI for low- Neck ribs: one or more thin horizontal ribs just be- flanged axe, AXR for high-flanged axe, AXS for low the collar. stopridge axe, AXP for palstave, AXW for winged Loop: usually D-shaped and of more or less round axe and L for looped, BM for bronze mould. AXT cross-section (‘string loops’) on type Wesseling; ‘el- signifies a socketed axe with loop, AXTU a socketed bow-shaped’ angular loops are common on ‘Hunze- axe without loop. Ems’ axes (but rare in the South of the Netherlands). Further descriptive features or subdivisions are Loop placement: the loop generally springs from indicated by letters or punctuation characters added the collar or the base of the collar. on the right: A = arch on faces; J = expanded blade Body outline: most often ) ( biconcave; some axes tips; N = narrow body; Nr = neck rib(s); P = plain are | | parallel-sided; / \ expanding sides; \ / funnel; S (unornamented); Pel = pellet(s); Rb = rib(bed); W = ogival. wide blade; Wi = ‘wings’. Face ornament: arches and/or imitation wings, Geographical expressions here abbreviated with of varied length are often present on socketed axes lower-case letters with reference to socketed axe of the types here discussed. The ‘wings’ are usually types are as follows: frou = Type Frouard; sed = Type rendered as raised surfaces (Kibbert’s Flächenlappen, PH45-46.indb 199 7-11-2005 14:34:05 200 J.J. BUTLER & H. STEEGSTRA Fig. 41. Glossary for descriptions and abbrevations. PH45-46.indb 200 7-11-2005 14:34:08 Bronze Age metal and amber in the Netherlands (III:2B) 201 Lappenzier Gruppe A), here simply referred to as unsharpened cutting edge, a sharpened cutting edge ‘wings’; but are sometimes rendered in ribs depict- (where evidence of having been sharpened has not ing the outline of wings (Kibbert’s Rippenlappen, been removed by modern re-working), and a sharp Lappenzier Gruppe C), here indicated as rib ‘wings’ cutting edge, i.e.