Polished axehead

A Neolithic polished flint axe head dating 4,0000 to 2,200 BCE. Polished axes began to be used in the Neolithic. They were an important part of the toolkit that allowed the early farmers to fell trees and clear land to create fields. The stone axes were knapped then ground smooth, so they cut deeper and lasted longer, making them a more efficient tool. Polished axes were also valued beyond the practical. They were often made from stone that was not found locally, the stone was sourced from mountain tops or deep below ground, it was brought across long distances and took time and effort to find it and mine it. There was a strong connection with the landscape. These axes are beautiful, the appearance was valued at the time with connections to social identity and tied in with beliefs and an understanding about how the world worked. Polished stone axes were often collected together and deliberately placed in important places within the landscape, these include watery places such as springs and rivers.