How to fit the handle on a stone axe

[AndyT]

In case anyone's not already seen this in the news:

5,500 years old, found in the Danish sea bed, where there was no oxygen to rot the wood.

They say 'ritual offering' but it looks to me as if the handle snapped off in use, and the business end went flying into the water, never to be seen again until now.

More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30197084

 

[Sheffield Tony]

"Ritual offering" hey. How many times do you hear that. If it were true, presumably all ancient people lived a life completely steeped in ritual practices. I think it basically is the archaeologist admitting they haven't a clue what an artifact is, or why it was found where it was. Particularly common with things found in water. Presumably more interesting as an axplanation than "perhaps it fell overboard" !

It would be nice to see a view end on to see better how the handle is fitted.

 

[n0legs]

I make "ritual offerings" every time something goes wrong :lol:
Flower beds, lawn, it don't matter to me when I kick off.

Good find Andy, interesting. Thanks.

 

[chipmunk]

Is it me or does anyone else think that it even looks like ash? Amazing!
I agree with Tony, it'd be great to see how the axe fitted into the shaft.

Jon

 

[AndyT]

I've found the Danish press release - here it is with the Google translation:

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...mernforbindelsen/nyheder/2014/20141124_oekse/

Maybe there really was some ritual reason as this axe is not an isolated example. Frustratingly, I can only find the one photo. I want the side view too!

 

[chipmunk]

Hi Andy,
There's an email address for more information at the bottom of the press release.
I think you should be the official point of contact to put us out of our misery ;-)
Jon

 

[Cheshirechappie]

5,500 years old?

Nah. I think that's one of Jacob's. Dunno what he was doing in Denmark, though.

 

[wizard]

'ritual offering' i do not think rituals or religion had been invented that far back

 

[JimB]

There's probably a note somewhere saying, "Stanley just doesn't make them like he used to".

 

[Eric The Viking]

They were a surprisingly advanced culture actually, although they did have very odd rituals:

 

[heimlaga]

Very interresting

Here is the original press release in Danish for those of us who can read it
http://www.aabne-samlinger.dk/femernfor ... 124_oekse/

I hope there will be a sceintific report in the future as they found several axe handles in the same area. It would be interresting to know which wood was prefered and in what direction relative to the growth rings the hole was made and what sort of resin that was used to hold the axe head in place. Somehgow the stone age people had to prwent the head from being driven further into the handle splitting the handle.