Axe Shaped stone, Sanquhar
This axe shaped stone found in Sanquhar in 1889 is puzzling as
it is made of sandstone, a soft material. It may have been used as
a whetstone for sharpening.
Despite the large demand for axeheads for forest clearance,
neolithic peoples took great trouble to obtains the best material,
and good stone was traded over considerable distances. The rock had
to be strong and capable of bearing a sharp edge without wearing
down or shattering.
Underground seams of flint were exploited at places such as
Grime's Graves in Norfolk where red deer antlers were used as
picks, and shovels were made from the shoulder blades of cattle. In
the north and west, igneous rocks were used, and often traded into
flint country because of their superior strength. Amongst the most
important sources of rock were Great Langdale in Cumbria, Graig
Lwyd in Wales, Tievebulliagh Hill in Antrim and Penwith in
Cornwall.
Object no :
SQAM010n
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
NA
Materials :
Sandstone
Location :
NA
Accession number :
SQRTM:1991.14
Copyright :
NA
