Target Review Group: Senior Experimental Archaeology and Lithic Technology Researchers
Abstract:
This experimental archaeology project details the complete manufacturing sequence and performance assessment of a ground-and-polished stone axe (celt). The raw material was sourced from the archaeologically significant quarry site of Graig Lwyd, North Wales. The manufacturing process employed traditional lithic reduction via flaking, followed by prolonged grinding and polishing using river sandstone to optimize structural integrity and edge geometry. Hafting involved crafting a highly resilient Ash wood handle, utilizing controlled ember burning for the socket, and securing the assembly with deer sinew for reinforcement. For typological context, the video incorporated 3D printed replicas of historical axeheads spanning the Paleolithic to the post-Neolithic periods. Functional testing involved felling a Sweet Chestnut coppice. The results confirmed the efficacy of the stone axe, noting its method of wood removal is characterized by bruising and ripping rather than clean cutting, and provided empirical data on tool durability and handle integration under stress.
Summary of Stone Axe Construction and Performance
0:27 Material Sourcing: Stone material was collected from Graig Lwyd in North Wales, a key Neolithic axe factory site where lithic working has occurred for over 6,000 years. The stone from this location was historically prized and broadly traded.
1:16 Manufacturing Process (Grinding): The rough-out axe head required several days of grinding and polishing against river sandstone. The process was undertaken to remove subsurface cracks, minimize stress concentrations, and increase the blade’s durability and smooth penetration into wood. Ground-edge axes of this type date back over 40,000 years in Australia, becoming common in Europe approximately 10,000 years ago.
3:26 Comparative Typology (3D Printing): The video included a comparative study using 3D printed models (Bambu Lab X1 Carbon) of historical axeheads. Examples ranged from a 300,000-500,000-year-old hand axe to a 4,500-year-old Danish battle axe and a 600-1,000-year-old North Carolina celt, demonstrating the evolution of axe design.
6:37 Hafting Material: The handle was fashioned from Ash wood, chosen specifically for its proven properties of flexibility and high resistance to impact and cracking, making it optimal for axe hafts.
7:45 Handle Socket Creation: The hole for hafting was bored using a controlled burning method involving embers, water, and clay to manage the charring depth, followed by abrasion with sticks and stones to finalize the socket shape.
10:03 Haft Stabilization: Deer sinew was used to bind the axe haft. The sinew shrinks as it dries, creating a highly secure wrap intended to prevent cracking under impact. Hide offcuts were added over the sinew for additional abrasion protection.
11:16 Functional Test Observation: Felling a Sweet Chestnut coppice tree confirmed the stone axe’s operational capability, though the method of wood removal was described as "bruising and ripping" rather than the cleaner cut achieved by steel blades.
12:38 Tool Performance Review: The axe proved efficient considering its materials. Post-testing inspection noted that the head had driven approximately 1.5 cm into the handle, indicating the need for potential future shimming to maintain optimal cutting edge projection. The cutting edge itself remained in "great condition," with only one minor pre-existing nick showing slight enlargement.
13:56 Project Context: The harvested wood will be utilized in the subsequent video for the reconstruction of Britain's oldest known Stone Age house, dating back over 10,000 years.
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