Stone axehead, Estuary of River Annan
Estuary of River Annan
A small, fine grained, grey stone axehead with a curved point at
butt. This particular axehead was uncovered by a schoolboy in the
estuary of the River Annan on the riverbed.
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 :
RPD0040a
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
L 200mm, B 33mm, W 65mm
Materials :
stone
Location :
Estuary of River Annan
Related site :
