Stone Age Axe
Brora Heritage Centre

This is a polished stone axe head was made during the Neolithic period, between 4,400 and 10,000 years ago! It would have been strapped to a wooden shaft, so that it could be wielded like a modern hand axe.

Axes were needed by people to cut down trees and shape wood for tools, dwellings, and other objects. However, it is believed that some stone axes must also have had a ritual function, since many are found unused and highly polished.

This one shows some damage on its wide end, but the rest of it remains intact and polished. Was this a ritual axe which was damaged accidentally or a working tool, which was chipped during use?