Period: Mesolithic (c. 900-3900 BC)

Project title: A Mesolithic Axe Maker's Workshop

Researcher: Steven M. Watt, Gastonia, USA

E-mail: stevewatts(at)cityofgastonia.com

Year: 2005

Abstract:

Axes are used by people all over the world and come in all shapes and sizes. One thing that they all have in common is that they have played an important part in improving people's standard of living. A shafted axe is more efficient than a hand-held tool and as such has made it possible to carry out tasks such as felling trees.

Although the North American Indian Stone Age cultures existed at the same time as the Danish Stone Age and in a similar forestal landscape., findings of axes are very rare. The only possible traces of axes are spear heads and knives that are believed to be recycled axes.

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the production and use of flint-core axes and cleavers from the Danish Stone Age to aid the understanding of the findings from North America. More than 150 axes from The National Museum in Copenhagen were studied, and 23 axes were produced at Lejre Experimental Centre. The axes showed very little similarity with the North American findings. The experiment is part of a larger project.

Reference number: HAF 08/05