Stone axehead, Kelton Mains, Kelton
Narrow fine grained, whitish grey polished stone
axehead. Found in the field below the Road at Kelton
Mains, January 1864.
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 :
RPD0035a
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
L 175mm, B 35mm, W 57mm
Materials :
stone
Location :
NA
Accession number :
DUMFM:1934.27
Copyright :
Dumfries & Galloway Council
