Artifact believed to be weapon over 5,000 years old discovered in eroded trail

An ancient weapon used more than 5,000 years ago has been found in an eroded path.

Resident Stephen Hamer was walking with a group of friends in May this year in the Rivington area when he spotted a stone falling loose.

Stephen, or Ste, brought it back to Horwich Heritage, with members of the group agreeing it looked unusual.

Derek Cartwright, Horwich Heritage secretary, said: “The stone was heavier than other stones of a similar size in the locality, it may even have been some type of metal.

“One end of the stone appeared to have a chiseled finish while the opposite end was flat.

“The stone also appeared to have some symmetry in its shape and was covered in something that looked like rust.

The Neolithic axe head that was found (Image: Horwich Heritage)

“This is an incredible find and such a rare piece, well done Ste.

“We are also very grateful to Ian Trumble for his identification and description of the find and for his continued support of Horwich Heritage.”

The group agreed to show it to Ian Trumble, president of the Bolton Archaeological and Egyptology Society and also curator of Bolton Museum.

After examining the piece, he discovered that the stone was a Neolithic axe head, approximately 5,000 years old.

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Ian said: “The ax is probably made from Langdale Tuff (from a site in the Lake District), although the shape of the ax is not one commonly found in the British Isles .

“It resembles the shape of Neolithic axes found in Scandinavia, which are more box-shaped and have pointed sides.

“This makes this piece even more interesting for archaeologists because it shows possible interaction between Neolithic groups in northwest England and Scandinavia, either through trade or travel.

The axe head (Image: Horwich Heritage)

“Either the people of the region had encountered Scandinavian designs and then reproduced them in local materials, or the Scandinavians had settled in the region and continued to make their traditional styles but in locally available stone.

“It dates from the end of the Neolithic, about 5,000 years ago.”

The ax can be seen, alongside other locally found stone axes of a similar age, on loan from Bolton Museum, at Horwich Heritage's 'Horwich Timeline Exhibition'.

A similarly shaped axe, thought to be Scandinavian, was found in the 1940s at 'Tigers Clough', Horwich, just over a mile from the location of Ste.

Ste said: “I'm really pleased that the axe is adding to our local history. It was a lucky find, no digging was required, it was just there by the side of a path.

“I just hope it inspires other people to come and have a look at our beautiful countryside and enjoy the views, but always watch where you walk.”