Interesting article on Anglo Saxon axes (Sutton Hoo boat build).

He lost me right here,

"It is likely that this type of axe was developed from T-shaped axes that were originally used as weapons."

What a ridiculously outrageous and unsupported claim. Like something out of a Junior High history report.
 
Square_peg said:
He lost me right here,

"It is likely that this type of axe was developed from T-shaped axes that were originally used as weapons."

What a ridiculously outrageous and unsupported claim. Like something out of a Junior High history report.
Click to expand...
The whole thing reads like a 7th grade history report. Hard to believe the author was a doctor.....
 
It's part of the problem of being an academic without a lot of lived experience using tools of the sort depicted. Many "mystery objects" or items labeled as "likely for ritual use" get shown to traditional craftspeople and they're like "oh yeah, that's a _______ and we use them for _________." Theory and book-learning ARE absolutely great to have, but direct experience teaches things that are difficult to grasp otherwise. It's part of why I tell folks taking up scything to read through instructional materials not merely before mowing the first time, but periodically as they gain more experience. The information will make more and more sense as it's contextualized by field experience. The same goes for axes or any other hand tool.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
It's part of the problem of being an academic without a lot of lived experience using tools of the sort depicted. Many "mystery objects" or items labeled as "likely for ritual use" get shown to traditional craftspeople and they're like "oh yeah, that's a _______ and we use them for _________." Theory and book-learning ARE absolutely great to have, but direct experience teaches things that are difficult to grasp otherwise. It's part of why I tell folks taking up scything to read through instructional materials not merely before mowing the first time, but periodically as they gain more experience. The information will make more and more sense as it's contextualized by field experience. The same goes for axes or any other hand tool.
Click to expand...
I've heard that many of the small stone "fertility statues" with large breasts and behinds were actually the stone age equivalent of adult magazines. I think that, is an oversimplification, if correct at all. Many of the "chopping axes" look similar to trade axes that were sometimes used as currency. Trade axes source; book of the sword
 
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A close friend,my old forging mentor,used to teach blacksmithing to boyscouts ages ago.
The very first words he'd address to a new group of scouts were:"We're NOT going to forge a sword,nor anything else sharp Or pointy".
Invariably,a collective sigh of disappointment rose from his audience...

It's all so natural,to associate those concepts...And the failure to communicate is often mutual,unfortunately.

We all must try harder to form bonds with scientists,and they with us,so that we can all of us benefit.

(Once friends twisted my arm to speak at a monthly colloquial in the Anthropology dept. at the University,about some of the basic things iron&related.Super embarrassing for me,with my twice-failed GED attempts,to be speaking to a bunch of folks with all their multiple doctorates.
In spite of my speaking very badly they were all super interested,and attentive,and kept asking questions(very good ones,too) till way past our allotted time,and were just endearingly appreciative about every bit of info...I realized then that they're just as orphaned and isolated in their fields as i am in my own ignorance...It'd be sweet if we could cooperate with science more often("we" as any practitioners of whatever manual skill).
 
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