Brązowa siekierka z tulejką i uszkiem z Kurcewa, pow. stargardzki

In 2017, a bronze socketed axe with a loop and prominent barbs on the blade was discovered at the Kurcewo 10 (AZP 34-10/48), site in north-western Poalnd (Fig. 1). Due to the shape of the profile, thickening near the edge and the decorative motif, the tool was classified as hexagonal axe of variant B (Fig. 2). The artefact was dated to the Bronze Age Period V. It was established that the specimen from Kurcewo combines three different stylistic designs: a Nordic hexagonal profile and loop, a western pendulum motif and Pomeranian barbs on the blade (Fig. 4). The results of chemical composition analyses revealed that the artefact was made of two-component (Cn-Sn) bronze, with elevated lead (Pb) content, considered a deliberate component of the alloy. A relatively small amount of other elements was found in the alloy composition, with zinc having the biggest share (Fig. 5). The results of the analyses conducted make it doubtful that the axe could have been used as a tool and seem to indicate its representative function.