Battle axehead

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This stone battle axehead was found in Banffshire. It dates from around 2200 to 2000 BC. Although battle axes could have been used as weapons, like recent Native American clubs, they were principally symbols of power, indicating high status.

The plump battle axehead has a blade, a butt, flat upper and lower surfaces and a shafthole positioned towards the butt end. The stone head would have been fixed onto the top of an organic handle by means of its shafthole.

Battle axe use was adopted from the Continent in the centuries before 2000 BC. Battle axes remained a popular status symbol for around 1000 years. Their heads were often made of beautiful and hard-to-work stone, and their shape changed according to fashions over the centuries.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-807-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.AH 104
• Date: Between 2200 and 2000 BC
  
• Material: Greenstone
  Axe hammer
  
• Dimensions: 4.25" x 2.63"
  
• What: Axe hammer
  
• Subject:
• Who: Rae Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Banffshire
  
• Event:
• Description: Axe hammer of greenstone, from Banffshire
  
• References:
  • Roe, F.E.S. The Battle-Axe series in Britain. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 32 (1966), 199-245. 
  • Roe, F.E.S. Typology of stone implements with shaftholes. In: Clough, T.H.McK. and Cummins, W.A. (eds). Stone Axe Studies. London: Council for British Archaeology (Research Report 23), 1979, pp 23-48. 
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