Battle axehead

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This stone battle axehead was found at Grandtully in Perthshire. 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 battle axehead, made from an attractive-looking speckled stone, has a thick blade, curving butt and a roughly centrally positioned shafthole. 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: 000-190-004-808-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.AH 106
• Date: Between 2200 and 2000 BC
  
• Material: Granite
  Axe hammer
  
• Dimensions: 3.50" x 1.88"
  
• What: Axe hammer
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Perthshire, Grantully
  
• Event:
• Description: Axe hammer of granite stone from Grantully, Perthshire
  
• References:
  • Clough, T.H.McK. and Cummins, W.A. (eds). Stone Axe Studies, Volume 2. London: Council for British Archaeology (Research Report 67), 1988. 
  • Fenton, M.B. The petrological identification of stone battle axes and axe-hammers from Scotland. In: Clough, T.H.McK. and Cummins, W.A. (eds). Stone Axe Studies. London: Council for British Archaeology (Research Report 67), 1988, pp 92-132. 
  • Roe, F.E.S. The Battle-Axe series in Britain. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 32 (1966), 199-245. 
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