A rare Bronze Age axe head has been uncovered in woodland near Brierley in the Forest of Dean.
The discovery was made by a local resident who spotted the object among the roots of a fallen tree during a walk.
The find was reported to Forestry England and later analysed by Cotswold Archaeology.
Experts have identified it as a “palstave” axe, a type of tool dating back thousands of years and made from bronze.
Specialists say the axe would have been cast in a mould and attached to a wooden handle using a loop and cord.
It has now been transferred to Dean Heritage Centre, where it will be preserved and displayed for the public.
Archaeologists say finds like this help build a picture of how people lived and worked in the area during the Bronze Age.