Worlds oldest Axe Head

We talking "unearthed fragments". I realize you can date the earth cover, strata or layer from which chips of material are excavated and oftentimes you can trace geological point of origin of specific stones (there was significant trade in area-specific flints for making spears and arrows all through n. America) but how someone can declare mere stone chips had to have been affiliated with an axe (and not a spear point, arrow head, mortar & pestle, hide scraper etc) escapes me. Too me that's sort of like finding an axle hub grease cap and positively attributing it to a car and not a boat trailer or some other thing with gears, pulleys or wheels.
 
My guess is that it was damaged(fragmented). Apparently enough was recovered to say that it was hafted and not just a hand axe.
 
Oldowan axes were produced in one location in Olduvai Gorge continuously for 750,000 years. That's a pretty successful axe factory.
 
I would like to see an example of the oldest known American poll axe, now that would be awesome.
 
Square_peg said:
Oldowan axes were produced in one location in Olduvai Gorge continuously for 750,000 years. That's a pretty successful axe factory.
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I hadn't read about this but really fascinating stuff, thanks for mentioning it. These were apparently hand axes then, without handles?
 
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If you like the old stone tools it is worth Goggling " Oldowan axes ". Really nice material with more than one culture represented and some pretty good flint knappers worked it.:thumbup:
 
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