Casgliadau Arlein

The artefact is rolled and smoothed by the action of the sea. Made of the naturally shed proximal end of the main shaft of a juvenile red deer antler. The crown bears no evidence of use as a hammer. The brow tine has been removed and the perforation runs through, and has completely removed, the 'bez' tine. The axis of the shaft hole lies at right angles to the position of the sheath. The truncation lies short of the 'trez' tine and the distal end has been hollowed out, for use as a sheath. It cannot be inferred whether the antler is part of a composite adze or axe. There is evidence of intense battering around much of the circumference of the beam close to the distal truncation; this has clearly been the working end. Radiocarbon dated; OX A-3813.