axe axehead

Jadeite axe head, thin lenticular section, ancient breaks at blade end.

Early: -4000 Late: -2400. Period: NEO

L: 191 mm W: 81 mm Th: 17.5 mm

Europe Scotland North.East.Scotland Blackhouse.Farm Methlick Aberdeenshire

Cruickshank, George

stone jadeite

Cruickshank,George

During the later Neolithic some finely-made, highly-polished axes were made of a green stone known as jadeite, from the Alps. The axes were among the earliest items brought to the east coast of Britain along a route through the Rhineland, which is used up to the present day. Too fine to be used as tools, they would have been symbols of status, and were deliberately buried as hoards or in significant places. This is one of six jadeite axe-heads from the North East Scotland. This axe has a triangular shape, with a pointed butt and curved blade, with the cutting edge extending around the perimeter. The cross-section is a flattened lens-shape. The axe is broken and chipped at the blade end. Its flat, triangular shape is typical of jadeite axe-heads from northern Britain. Unusually this one was found recently in a secure context, at Blackhouse Farm, Methlick, Aberdeenshire.

1d790d65-301d-415f-b7a8-2d42966f99c5