Battle Axe, Castledykes
Castledykes, Dumfries
A long axe hammer with an off centre shaft hole, rounded butt
tapers to a pointed polished blade. This axe has been
re-constructed from three broken fragments. The small size and
high polished finish of this axe suggests that it was used for
ceremonial purposes.
Battle axes, mace heads and axe hammers
Battle axes were designed as weapons of war, with a cutting edge
at one end, a hammer at the other and a central hourglass shaft
hole for hafting. They are associated with the Beaker people and
are sometimes found with burial urns. They are relatively uncommon
in south west Scotland, perhaps because the high and difficult
terrain deterred conflict.
Producing tools like these took time. After selecting an
appropriate rock, a hammer was used to create the rough shape. The
Bronze Age stone mason would have continued pecking at the rock,
using smaller and finer tools as the work progressed. The shaft
hole would have been made by drilling from both sides, perhaps with
a section of antler or bone in a bow drill.
Many of these implements have a polished surface, which was
achieved by rubbing on a wetted stone slab, perhaps using sand as
an abrasive.
Object no :
RPD0108
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
length: 105 mm width: 45 mm depth: 40 mm
Materials :
Stone
Location :
Castledykes, Dumfries
Accession number :
DUMFM:1946.2.1
Copyright :
NA