8. Identifying Stone Implements provenanced from the Carrock Fell Gabbro

Figure 7: Photomicrograph of implement Lindale-in-Cartmel axe

A selection of ten geochemically and microscopically analysed implements was directly compared with signatures previously established from the Carrock Fell Gabbro. The results of this comparison are summarised in Table 6. Only the most notable petrological features are listed, mainly those that were either clearly diagnostic of the Carrock Fell Gabbro, or those that were not. A confidence rating system was used to quantify the petrological similarity of the implements to the Carrock Fell Gabbro. The results indicated that seven implements showed secure to very secure provenance to the Carrock Fell gabbro; one implement was inconclusive in provenance; and two implements confidently did not show provenance from this source. Axe C52 (Fig. 7) from Lindale-in-Cartmel (Cumbria) showed very secure provenance to the Carrock Fell Gabbro, using both geochemical and petrological data. Axe hammer Y772 from Sproatley (East Yorkshire) and axe C20 from Bampton (Cumbria) showed very good geochemical affinities and reasonable petrological similarities. Axe C19 from Bothel (Cumbria) and axe C23 from Bassenthwaite (Cumbria) both showed generally good geochemical similarities and were supported by strong petrological features – including uralised twinned augite with 'herring bone' texture, interstitial quartz, granophyric intergrowths and large exsolved skeletal Fe oxide grains. Axe hammer Y488 from near Scarborough showed reasonable geochemical affinity, but displayed textures not common in Carrock Fell Gabbro. Although axe hammer C80 (Fig. 8) from Workington and mace head C81 (Fig. 9) from Garlands (Cumbria) do not show strong geochemical similarities to the Carrock Fell Gabbro, petrologically they exhibit very strong textural and mineralogical similarities, and are very likely to be of Carrock Fell provenance. Axe hammer Y623 from near Scarborough (Yorkshire) and axe hammer C113 from Melkinthorpe (Cumbria) showed generally poor geochemical affinity and very few petrological similarities to the Carrock Fell Gabbro; they can be confidently interpreted as not showing provenance from the Carrock Fell Gabbro.

Figure 8: Photomicrograph of Workington mace head (C80)
Figure 9: Photomicrograph of Garlands mace head (C81)

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