Stone axehead, East Preston, Kirkbean

East Preston, Kirkbean
On loan to Dumfries Museum from the Antiquarian Society, this short fine grained, greenish grey stone axehead has unique dark bands at an angle through the rock   Stone axeheads were surprisingly efficient. Fitted to a shaft of wood, antler or bone they could be used to remove the bark and phloem, which carried the nutrients of a tree, and in time it died. Large areas of forest could also be cleared by felling. Experiments in Denmark have revealed that this type of axe was most effective if swung from the elbow with short, sharp cuts. In this way three men cleared 500 square metres of silver birch forest in four hours, felling over a hundred trees!  
Object no :
RPD0028a
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
L 108mm, B 27mm, W 54mm
Materials :
stone
Location :
East Preston, Kirkbean
Accession number :
DUMFM:1934.5
Copyright :
Dumfries & Galloway Council
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