Period: Mesolithic (c. 9000-6800 BC)
Project title: Reconstructing the manufacture and use of Maglemosian bone adzes – part VI
Researcher: Eva David, Researcher at the "Maison de l'Archéologie et de l'Ethnologie", Ph.D. archaeology, Paris, France
and Johanna Seppä, Musieverket, Helsinki, Finland
E-mail: eva.david(a)mae.u-paris10.fr
Year: 2006
Abstract:
Tools, that the modern archaeologist do not know the use of, are sometimes found at excavations. One example is the so-called "Mullerup-axe" made out of auroch bone. They are often found at settlements dated to the early Mesolithic. Despite of the name, they have not been used as axes in the Mesolithic! The use wear show that the tool was used for something else.
The aim of this experiment is to investigate what function the "axe" might have had - if is not an axe.
This is done by using reconstructed "Mullerup axes" for a range of tasks that have also been done in the early Mesolithic e.g. tree felling, hide processing, extracting bark, wood working and working the soil.
After the experimental use of the tools, the use wear on the reconstructed tools has been compared with the use wear on the original tools.
In 2006, experiments with the use of the tool as a wedge to split wood. Moreover an "axe" was used to work wood with. The tool worked well for both tasks but only the use wear after splitting wood was comparable with the original use wear.
The similiarity between the experimental and the original use wear was actually so great that it can be concluded that the "Mullerup axe" most probable has been used as a wedge.
The wedge has probably been hafted with a small piece of wood in one end to protect the soft bone when using the wedge. Hafting the wedge was also tried out in 2006. The experiment in 2006 was the end of a series.
Reference number: HAF 15/06
Project title: Reconstructing the manufacture and use of Maglemosian bone adzes – part V
Researcher: Eva David, Researcher at the "Maison de l'Archéologie et de l'Ethnologie", Ph.D. archaeology, Paris, France
E-mail: eva.david(a)mae.u-paris10.fr
Year: 2005
Abstract:
On excavations we often find tools from the past which we modern humans do not immediately understand the function of. One example is the so-called “Mullerup adze” which is found on Stone Age settlement sites. Despite the name, these artefacts were not necessarily used as adzes. Previously in this project, a number of adzes were produced using aurochs bone, like the originals. These reconstructed “Mullerup adzes” will now be used to fell and de-bark trees and to work hides until they are worn out. After this experimental use, the wear on the adzes will be analysed and compared with that on the original “Mullerup adzes”. The experiments form part of a series.
Reference number: HAF 15/05
Project title: Reconstructing the manufacture and use of Maglemosian bone adzes – part IV
Researcher: Eva David, Researcher at the "Maison de l'Archéologie et de l'Ethnologie", Ph.D. archaeology, Paris, France
E-mail: eva.david(a)mae.u-paris10.fr
Year: 2004
Abstract:
Excavations often reveal prehistoric tools, for which the use is unknown. An example of this is the so-called “Mullerup adze” which is made from a worked aurochs bone. Despite the name, these artefacts were not necessarily used as adzes. Patterns of wear on the original tools suggest something else. The aim of this experiment is to clarify what the use of the adzes were.
In previous experiments 12 “Mullerup adzes” has been reconstructed and five different ways of hafting has been tried. The reconstruction work in producing an adze takes four hours and demands four types of tools (burin, burin staple, hammer and saw).
This year the adzes were used for respectively felling trees and skin scraping. After the experiment the wear patterns on the reconstructed adzes were compared with the original “Mullerup adzes”. Preliminary results show that the wear traces look very different from the originals. More experimentation with hide working and barking is needed before a conclusion can be made. The experiment is part of a series.
Reference number: HAF 04/04
Project title: Reconstructing the manufacture and use of Maglemosian bone adzes – part III
Researcher: Eva David, Researcher at the "Maison de l'Archéologie et de l'Ethnologie", Ph.D. archaeology, Paris, France
and Johanna Seppä, Finland
E-mail: eva.david(a)mae.u-paris10.fr
Year: 2003
Abstract:
So-called ‘Mullerup axes’ made of aurochs bones are often found on settlement sites from the Maglemosian culture. The way in which they were hafted and used is unknown, and even though the artefact type has been given the name ¨Mullerup axe’, it has not necessarily been used as an axe. During experiments in 1999 and 2001, five different hafting methods were arrived at. This year the experiment will involve trying the axes’ use and suitability for processing hides. Afterwards the wear on the tools will be compared with that on the original ‘Mullerup axes’. The experiment is part of an experimental series.
Reference number: HAF 04/03
Project title: Reconstructing the manufacture and use of Maglemosian bone adzes – part II
Researcher: Eva David, Researcher at the "Maison de l'Archéologie et de l'Ethnologie", Ph.D. archaeology, Paris, France
E-mail: eva.david(a)mae.u-paris10.fr
Year: 2001
Abstract:
In 1999 Eva David produced a reconstruction of the so-called “Mullerup axe” from the Maglemosian culture made from an aurochs bone. One of the questions in connection with the reconstruction was with regard to the original shafting of the axe. In 2001 more axes were produced and work with studying the use of the axes was begun. The method is to work with the axe in different materials and subsequently compare the wear traces with those on the original archaeological finds.
Different forms of shafts were manufactured and the axes were attempted used for the working of fresh hides stretched on a wooden frame at an angle of 45 degrees. The straight, the curved and the T-shaped shafts were all usable and the axes were particularly effective for scraping and removing hair from the hides. The angle of shafting of the axe is very important and this shows among other things that the suggested reconstruction shown in Sesam’s “History of Denmark” is not usable.
Reference number: HAF 03/01
