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MHG3028 - BA Axehead - Connage Farm

Summary

Three Bronze Age axeheads.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

See also MHG3027 for the bronze spearhead.

Three bronze axes were found together at a depth of 3ft in a field on the farm of Connage in December 1846 by a labourer cutting drains. The field, called traditionally the 'blood-field' is still said to be in the Moss of Petty though the field has been cultivated for 28 years.
The weapons differ in size but the only one illustrated, with sections, is described as 5 1/2ins long and 3 1/2 ins broad, sharp at both ends & resembling a fourth bronze axe found in the same field some years earlier.
The three axes passed from the possession of Mr Croall, parish teacher of Ardersier, into that of the Earl of Moray.
M'Phadrig 1848.

The 'blood field' formerly part of Connage, now incorporated in Inverness (Dalcross) Aerodrome, was centred at NH 778 526. The Earl of Moray's collection is at Darnaway Castle. (Information from Mr W Rose, Wester Delnies, Nairn).
Visited by OS (R D) 18 August 1964.

These three axeheads were catalogued as part of the North Kessock & District Local History Society and Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH) collaborative 'Feats of Clay' Project, which was focused on Bronze Age metalworking around the Moray Firth. A fourth axehead is also said to have been found, prior to 1846, and was last recorded within the possession of the Earl of Morayhis fourth axehead may have been part of this hoard. A Late Bronze Age spearhead is also recorded from the 'Field of Blood', and may be part of this hoard. The three axeheads were assigned Early Bronze Age dates. <1>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 7780 5259 (4m by 4m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH75SE
Civil Parish	PETTY
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

Finds (1)

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