Image credit: Knaresborough Museum Association
NEWS: Tribal chieftain’s hand axe, between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, discovered in Knaresborough
A hand axe that is believed to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old has been discovered in Knaresborough, Yorkshire (England) ahead of the town’s community archaeology event. The Neolithic axe is the only one of its kind found in Yorkshire and is believed to have been owned by someone of importance like a tribal chieftain. It shows no sign of wear and tear and the stone is soft so it was evidently not used for the traditional purpose of a hand axe as a cutting tool. It is therefore suggested that the axe had some sort of ceremonial purpose. There is also evidence to suggest it moved around the country through various owners, likely via trade.
Kathy Allday, the Chair of Knaresborough Museum Association had this to say about the find:
“The hand axe was found in Hopperton, three miles from Knaresborough, and is between 4000 and 5000 years old," said Kathy Allday.
Is so exciting when you come across such a rare artefact.
The polished hand axe was a valuable commodity and sent all over the country and provides the first evidence of trade in pre-history.
What is unusual about our hand axe is that it would never have been used as a tool to cut down trees, to clear land for agriculture as the stone is too soft.
After consultations with Yorkshire Archaeological Society and the British Museum, Knaresborough Museum Association believes it is the only honey coloured stone axe used for ceremonial purposes in Yorkshire and probably belonged to a tribal chief.”
Knaresborough Museum Association’s community archaeology festival will be displaying hundreds of artefacts from the area including this axe. The event is being held on October 28th-29th and November 4th-5th from 10AM-4:30PM (GMT).
24/10/2023