No 1. Stone Axes
Date: 500,000- and 5,000-years ago
Why is it important: Evidence of early human activity in Prinsted in the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods.
In the 1980s a local fisherman, Bill Dridge, found a polished stone about 127mm long, while dredging for oysters in the Prinsted channel. After it had sat in a drawer for many years, he donated it to the Museum. Initially identified as probably Neolithic, it is now confirmed as a polished axe about 6,000 – 7,000 years old, in good condition but with a large chip off the cutting edge.
The fisherman found another stone now identified as an axe head. This type of Lower Palaeolithic axe was used for cutting or scraping and produced around 500,000 BC. It was sharpened by the edge being re-flaked when it became dull. This hand axe dates from the same period as the discoveries at Boxgrove to the north-east of Chichester, and by the same type of human (Homo Heidelbergensis).
Their provisional identification as Neolithic and Palaeolithic respectively was confirmed by David Rudkin, the former Director of Fishbourne Roman Palace.
These can be viewed in the Archive Room glass fronted cabinet on the right and put us in touch with people who lived in this area an unimaginable time ago.
