Stone axehead, Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir
Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir
Large fine grained, granitic stone axehead with black grey and
white crystal matrix. Found NE of Blackburn Bridge, Watcarrick,
Eskdalemuir, under 4 ft of peat on W side of road while being
widened.
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 :
RPD0042a
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
L 180mm, B 37mm, W 74mm
Materials :
granite
Location :
Watcarrick, Eskdalemuir
Accession number :
DUMFM:1952.28
Copyright :
Dumfries & Galloway Council
