Five stone axeheads

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These stone axeheads were found in Loch Airigh na Ceardaich at Balallan at Lochs on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. They were deposited into the loch together, probably as a religious offering, sometime between 3800 and 1800 BC.

Axe head of grey-green stone, with a broad flattened butt and relatively straight sides, from Loch Airigh na Ceardaich, Balallan, Lochs, Lewis

Classical sources suggest that native religious rites were practised in natural places rather than monumental buildings. Watery places in particular had religious significance, and were places where objects were ritually deposited.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-082-986-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.AF 1096
• Date: Between 3800 and 1800 BC
  
• Material: Stone, grey ; one side straight and the other slightly convex; irregularly curving blunt cutting edge
  Stone, grey and white on one face and light brown and grey on the other; broad butt; slightly convex sides
  Stone, grey-green; broad flattened butt; relatively straight sides; asymmetrical cutting edge; thick proportions
  Stone, grey; broad flattened butt; straight sides; rounded cutting edge; thick proportions; oval cross-section
  Stone, speckled grey; broad butt; straight sides; rounded cutting edge; flattened oval cross-section
  Axe
  Axe
  Axe
  Axe
  Axe
  
• Dimensions: Butt 115 mm L x 40 mm B; cutting edge 73 mm B
  Butt 116 mm L x 38 mm B; cutting edge 66 mm B
  Butt 120 mm L x 33 mm B; cutting edge 64 mm B
  Butt 129 mm L x 29 mm B; cutting edge 67 mm B
  Butt 131 mm L x 40 mm B; cutting edge 57 mm B
  
• What: Axe
  Axe
  Axe
  Axe
  Axe
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Lochs, Balallan, L
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Lochs, Balallan, L
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Lochs, Balallan, L
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Lochs, Balallan, L
  Scotland, Ross and Cromarty, Lewis, Lochs, Balallan, L
  
• Event:
• Description: Axe head of grey stone, with a broad flattened butt and straight sides, from Loch Airigh na Ceardaich, Balallan, Lochs, Lewis
  Axe head of speckled grey stone, with a broad butt and straight sides, from Loch Airigh na Ceardaich, Balallan, Lochs, Lewis
  Stone axe head, grey and white on one face and light brown and grey on the other, with a broad butt and slightly convex sides, from Loch Airigh na Ceardaich, Balallan, Lochs, Lewis
  Axe head of grey stone with a broad flattened butt, one side straight and the other slightly convex, from Loch Airigh na Ceardaich, Balallan, Lochs, Lewis
  
• References:
  • Treasure Trove file 
  • Treasure Trove file 
  • Treasure Trove file 
  • Treasure Trove file 
  • Treasure Trove file 
• Translations:
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