Dog walker's routine stroll turns into 'incredible' 3,000-year-old discovery in picturesque forest
A dog walker named John discovered a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age axe head during a routine stroll in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. The artifact, identified as a palstave axe, dates to the Middle Bronze Age between 1500 and 1200 B.C. It was reported to Forestry England and handed over for recording and further investigation.
- ▪The axe was found nestled among the roots of a fallen tree near Brierley in the Forest of Dean.
- ▪Forestry England issued a press release announcing the discovery and confirming the axe was reported and transferred for study.
- ▪The palstave axe is made from a copper alloy, likely bronze, and features a side loop for attachment to a wooden handle.
- ▪Palstave axes were commonly used during the Middle Bronze Age in Britain.
- ▪The Forest of Dean is a historic woodland known for its ancient trees and rich archaeological potential.
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Discovery Dog walker's routine stroll turns into 'incredible' 3,000-year-old discovery in picturesque forest Man spotted the axe in the Forest of Dean, a historic woodland in western Gloucestershire By Andrea Margolis Fox News Published May 16, 2026 10:15am EDT | Updated May 16, 2026 10:33am EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Stone Age dog buried with 5,000-year-old dagger found in Sweden Archaeologists have discovered an exceptionally well-preserved Stone Age dog skeleton buried with a 5,000-year-old bone dagger in a Swedish bog. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A dog walker recently stumbled upon an ancient axe head during a routine walk in a forest — an item that's believed to date back three millennia.
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