NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
A dog walker recently fell on the head of an ancient ax during a walk in the forest – something believed to have happened three thousand years ago.
The ax was found by a dog walker named John in the Forest of Dean, a historic forest in west Gloucestershire, England, near the border with Wales.
The area is known for its ancient trees and dense undergrowth, and the man saw the ax “laid between the roots of a fallen tree in the woods near Brierley,” officials said.
WORKERS STUMBLED AT HISTORIC CEMETERY AND ‘VERY COMMON’ FINDINGS DURING EXPORT PROGRAM
The discovery was announced in a recent press release from Forestry England, the government agency that manages England’s publicly managed forests.
“The findings were immediately reported to Forestry England, which manages the forest,” the release said.
A dog walker named John, seen at left, found a 3,000-year-old ax head during a routine walk in England’s Forest of Dean. (Forestry England)
“The item has been handed over for recording and investigation.”
The ax dates from the Middle Bronze Age, which lasted from about 1500 to 1200 BC in Britain.
WHAT ARE THE OLDEST WOODEN TOOLS YOU EVER OWNED? OLD EVENTS KEPT IN THE MUD FALL THE CONFESSORS
It is probably at least 3,000 years old.
Kayleigh Spring, curator at Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, identified the tool as a palstave axe.
The oldest tool has been identified as a palstave axe, a design commonly used during the Middle Bronze Age. (Forestry England)
Palstave axes were designed with a loop on the side to attach securely to the wooden handle.
“It is made of an alloy of copper that may be copper, an alloy of copper and tin,” Spring said in a statement.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFE NEWSLETTER
“This tool was originally molded.”
The ax shows highly developed Bronze Age art, and Spring noted that early Bronze Age molds were “simple stones with holes.”
“Findings like this, although rare, do happen.”
“During the Middle Bronze Age, two-part molds allowed for more complex designs like this,” he said.
“After making sure it was tested free of chloride ions, we carefully removed the dirt and rust from under magnification and applied Incralac to protect the pitted blade and reduce future corrosion while on display.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
After analysis, the ax was sent to the Dean Heritage Centre, a museum in Soudley, Gloucestershire.
Leoni Dawson, Forestry England community ranger, said getting “help[s] we contacted people who lived and worked in these places long before us.”
After being reported, the ax was carefully analyzed and preserved before being placed in a local museum. (Forestry England)
“It’s amazing to think that tools like this have survived for thousands of years, hidden under our feet,” Dawson said.
A spokesperson for Forestry England told Fox News Digital that the findings, while surprising, are unprecedented.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“The Forest of Dean is one of the largest ancient forests in England, made up of centuries of history, industry and natural beauty,” the official said.
“Findings like this, although rare, do happen.”
The artifact was found in the Forest of Dean, an area known for its deep history and ancient sites. (Richard Baker/Photos via Getty Images)
It is not the first time in recent months that dog walkers have stumbled upon history in the United Kingdom.
In Scotland, two dog walkers recently found “distinctive markings” on the Angus coast that turned out to be 2,000-year-old footprints.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The footprints were later washed away, although archaeologists successfully made 3D models and artifacts of the body before it was destroyed.
