POLISHED AXEHEAD

Neolithic axe. A Greenstone axe presumed to be of Group VI (6), a product of the Langdale Pike axe factory, produced as an oval rough-out and finished by fine polishing which emphasises natural banding of the stone to striking decorative effect. The axe is pointed oval in cross-section with lateral facets (flattened upper and lower edges). It tapers at both ends, one terminating with a wide, worn and slightly chipped cutting edge, and at the other end to a narrower, more abraded butt. The surface of the axe is highly polished with a few patches of later damage.

The Langdale greenstone axes were traded from a quarry on Langdale Pike, Cumbria, and their distribution around the Humber estuary is denser than anywhere except around the production site itself. The fine finish of the object, and the care lavished on sharpening, repair and reworking, all illustrate the high value placed upon such objects. Their use is debatable; a primary function for tree felling or carpentry is perhaps less likely than use as a weapon and/or prestige item. Suggested date: Neolithic, 3500-2100 BC.

Length: 122.50 mm; Width: 56.99 mm; Thickness: 27.33 mm; Weight: too heavy for scale