Thursday 23 April 2026 at 7.18pm

Axeheads and outcrops: finding the source of Group XX Neolithic stone axeheads in Charnwood Forest

Dr Jonny Graham

Thursday 23rd April 2026 at 7.30pm.

Since its identification over 65 years ago, the source of Neolithic axeheads from petrological Group XX has been a matter of conjecture, with archaeologists determining that it was located somewhere within Charnwood Forest. Recently, myself and two colleagues from the Implement Petrology Group utilised portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) to match the geochemistry of axeheads held in museum collections with outcrops throughout the Charnwood landscape as a means of finding a potential source. In this paper, I will discuss the history of research into Group XX and outline what the findings of our project mean for these Leicestershire axeheads and their origin.

No booking necessary. Entry to the talk is free of charge.

Location: Clephan 0.01, De Montfort University, Leicester. (Click here for venue location, paid parking outside the building is £2-3)