Towards a Quantitative Analysis of Aronze Axe Metalwork Wear

Summary

Bronze axes are arguably the most important objects of study for understanding the start of metallurgy in Europe; a process of material transformation that irrevocably altered the prehistoric world. Yet we cannot accurately answer the simple question ‘what were bronze axes used for’? This paper aims to begin to establish more clearly the way that wear develops on the blades of bronze axes. Existing studies in metalwork wear analysis have relied on qualitative analysis of replicas used in a limited number of experiments primarily focused on tree chopping and felling. We report on a new experimental analysis in which axes are used for a range of different tasks involving different worked materials. Quantitative analysis of surface texture using focus variation microscopy (Alicona Infinite Focus microscope) was carried out before, during and after the experiments in order to test the hypothesis that working different materials generates significant differences in wear textures and to establish how wear patterns develop over time. The results increase our understanding of how wear develops with use, and reveal the relationship between the parameters that quantify the texture of the worn surface and the nature of the worked materials.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Exploring the Microscale: Advances and Novel Applications of Microscopy for Archaeological Materials

Keywords

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