Useable vs status axes

Lincolnshire and Humberside 4

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Rhiannon Jan 13, 2004 14:42:56

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/23808
I thought axes were often turning up that were too big to actually use? and that they're usually explained as status / trading objects. Or is there something unusual about this one because it's a stone axe from the bronze age.

(By the way, reading the thread from a few days ago about recognising flints, it occurred to me that the sooner you get out and knap some flint yourself, the sooner you'll recognise people's handiwork in the bits you find out and about. )

BrigantesNation Jan 13, 2004 16:10:25

Replying to Rhiannon

The first thing I thought when they said this axe was too heavy was - who says! After all, we have 5lb lump hammers do we not?

To me the question of ritual/status comes down to physical condition and find location, ie. unused and part of a burial or ritual deposition since I am assuming that these started off as utility objects then transcended to high status and therefore arbitrary measures such as size may not be helpfull in decoding the meaning of a particular axe find. I'm sure this in itself is an oversimplified version of events.

Chris Collyer Jan 13, 2004 16:56:39

Replying to Rhiannon

Hmm, that's just up the road from me and it's the first I've heard about it
:-0

As for flint knapping, there's a 1 day course at Flag Fen on July 17th for 45 quid.

http://www.eastmidlands.info/flagfen/flag_fen_events.htm

I sent for the details at the weekend but haven't heard back from them yet, if anybody is interested I'll post the info up on here when I get it.

-Chris

fitzcoraldo Jan 15, 2004 16:44:05

Replying to Rhiannon

The term 'axe' could be misleading. This 'axe' could have a plough, the weight of the tool would be important for breaking the ground.
This from Caroline Malone in her book "Neolithic Britain & Ireland
"The fact that many semi-polished/ground axes are found at random in the countryside rather suggests that cultivation may have been just as important as tree-felling, which is the usual explanation for these tools"