|
Date: |
|
Description: | A greenstone axe head. 'Egg-shaped' in section. Early Neolithic (3500 BC - 2500 BC). The tip is present only, broken off at 64mm and 35mm wide. The axe would have been hafted onto a wooden handle. The stone would have been ground into the basic shape and polished to give a smooth surface. Natural veins in the surface of the stone are now discoloured. The stone is a very light green when compared to other jadeite or greenstone axes of this period. This suggests that it is a greenstone found in the UK (there are greenstone belts found in the South-West of England)rather than imported from Europe or Africa. Stone and flint axes of this type are believed to have had a symbolic role in Neolithic society, as well as functional. The quality of axe and rarity of stone would have had a direct relationship to the status of the individual. They were often associated with burials.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
-
-
AXEHEAD
A Neolithic handaxe, the axe…
-
AXEHEAD
A Neolithic axehead, the axe…
-
AXE
A broken stone axe head…
-
AXEHEAD
Polished Neolithic axe head. The…
-
Axehead
Polished Neolithic axe head. The…
-
AXEHEAD
Polished Neolithic axe head. The…
-
AXEHEAD
A complete ground or polished…
-
AXEHEAD
Stone: Volcanic Tufa from Langdale,…
|