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Description: | A fragment of a Neolithic polished flint axe. Axes such as these were one of the core types of tools used in the Neolithic period from circa 3500 - 2000 BC. The axe has been knapped from a nodule of flint and then ground and polished over its entire surface. All that survives of this flint is the cutting edge and the lower end of the axes blade. The entire butt end has been removed by many breaks. The surviving fragment has a pointed oval section. The edges of the axe have not been chamfered. It was common practice for broken axes to be re-flaked as this one has been but rarely were they re-ground (Butler, 2005). The axe was intended to be used as a cutting tool, for chopping. But the cutting edge shows no sign of use, so it therefore seems to be the case that this axe was never used as a cropping tool. The blade looks as flesh as the day it was made, albeit for the odd notch which has been removed. The surfaces of the axe are covered in tiny parallel striations, probably a result of the grounding and polishing process, the fact that these are so clearly visible gives further evidence that this tool was never used. The axe has broken roughly through the central section. It has then been heavily re-knapped with numerous flakes being removed from both surfaces, the edges and also from the blade itself. No secondary working is evident. This re-knapping has resulting in the formation of a rough point (where the butt end should be). Perhaps this tool was re-fabricated into a pick. Or the work could have been done to re-haft the axe. The end of the point has broken off again perhaps due to wear. The axe appears therefore to never have been used and then it has been re-worked into a pick. The flint is a light creamy-brown colour.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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