EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF MESOLITHIC SHARD AXES

Abstract

The completed experiments demonstrated that shard axes, in particular the axes of the Ertebølle culture, are suitable for use as both adzes and axes for various processing operations for different materials. High effi ciency has been observed during their use as axe blades for transverse felling (cutting) of soft wood (pine), harder wood (birch) and hard wood (dry oak). At the same time, the axe blades were rather stable, and the performance level of the implement was high throughout the experiment. These implements were suitable for further use. Similar high performance was demonstrated by an adze used for leveling of pine logs. It was also suitable for subsequent work. The shard axes have been successfully used for processing the soaked red deer horn, both in terms of the application as axes for transverse cutting of the horn, and as adzes for cutting off the horn mass and leveling the surfaces. The conclusion regarding the use of fl int axes in the Ertebølle culture as axes and adzes for processing different types of wood and horn, which was made as a result of a trace evidence analysis of these products, was confi rmed in the course of the completed experiments.