Recovered as a surface find during an archaeological excavation in 2015, a largely complete cordate hand axe was found. Made from mottled dark grey/light brown flint with orange-grey patination along one edge, the flint used is of moderate quality, with approximately 5% of the surface being comprised of visible flaws. A small area of cortex remains at the proximal end. All removal scars appear to be contemporary and part of the construction of the hand axe, with the exception of minor crush damage to the edges (likely the result of post-depositional movement, probably in a river-rolling context) and a single scar at the distal end (very ‘fresh’, with sharp edges and no patination, indicating a modern date, possibly during recovery). (1)

Findspot corresponds with a patch of terrace gravel attributed to T4 (2). The handaxe may have come from within the gravel, or from a palaeo-landsurface on the gravel's top surface. Historic handaxe finds are numerous in this area, and the deposits merit careful investigation for Palaeolithic remains.

<1> Thames Valley Archaeological Services, 2015, Sevenoaks Quarry, Greatness, Sevenoaks, Kent: An Archaeological Excavation Phase 5 (Unpublished document). SKE31476.

<2> Larkby JR, , 1905, Excursion to Chelsfield and Well Hill. , p124 (Article in serial). ske55088.