Axe Heads

The accepted name in archaeology for a stone axe-head is the word 'celt', (pronounced selt). However, because of the way language develops, and the present day use of 'Celt' (pronounced Kelt) this page will stick with 'axe-heads'.

After the use of a lump of rock, or a stick, probably the first tool developed by man, was the use of a sharp edge of a broken stone. As the ice retreated after the last ice-age, people moved into Britain, following their prey north. The land across what was to be northern France and southern Britain (pre English channel) was rolling chalk-downs, and embedded in the chalk is one of the most useful of materials --- flint. (See the page on FLINT for a fuller explanation of this material) When broken, this rock has edges as sharp as a razor. As the need for specialised tools arose, man learned to shape the flint so that it could be used in the hand safely or mounted in wooden handles.

The periods called Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age are used to indicate the technology and materials used for the production of tools and weapons, but not to describe cultures or living conditions.
During the long period of the Stone Age, the time is split into Early - Middle - Late with further breakdown within each of these periods (Further information in the TIME LINE) However, the development of the stone tools was limited, due to the constraints of the material.

Palaeolithic axe

Not really an axe, as it is held in the hand and the edges are used as a knife for cutting with.

Mesolithic axe

First true axe as it was mounted into a wooden handle and used to chop with.

Neolithic axe

Purer shape, with some of the axe-heads highly polished and smooth.

The first metal to be exploited was gold, but it is too soft to be of use for tools or weapons. The first hard metal to be used was copper, but this had a very limited ability. When it was found that copper, alloyed with tin, produced a serviceable metal that would keep an edge, the Bronze Age was born. (See BRONZE)

Bronze cannot be forged (hammered to shape), but it can be cast. This means that the metal is heated to melting point and poured into a mould.

	This was one of the earliest type of bronze axe to be made. It was based on the same shape as the previous stone axes, with the working edge hammered out to create the cutting edge. Hammering also had the effect of hardening the metal, but taken too far, the bronze could break. However, unlike stone, the bronze can be recycled by melting it down, and recasting

	This axe needs a more sophisticated mould, but produces an axe-head that can be mounted more securely on a wooden shaft. Its shape is also stronger than the early types of heads.

	This was the height of the technology. It could be mounted on the strongest of handles and had ample bronze at the cutting edge and therefore lasted much longer before recasting.

Last but not least - Iron. This metal changed the world. It is a hard, easily worked material that will hold a very sharp edge. It could be reused over and over again, reshaping with ease. All that was needed was a hot fire and a hammer - no more fragile moulds. Most of the hand-tools that we use today were developed 2500 years ago, and they have not changed in shape or proportion (see IRON and TOOLS)