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