Jerz or Musandam axes arrived yesterday.

gp · 26th December 2022, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

This is a good example of parallel development in the populations living in the mountais.

I am sorry but wouldn't that be rather wishfull thinking of a non scientific nature ?
No disrespect intended but the first true hafted axes are known from the Mesolithic period (ca. 6000 BC), where axes made from antler were used that continued to be utilized in the Neolithic in some areas. Chopping tools made from flint were hafted as adzes. Axes made from ground stone are known since the Neolithic

So when taking the axes you mentioned, the history of axes has evolved quite from those days and most likely their origins known to the several peoples one might presume instead of a paralel development. But than again, I might be wrong as I am no scolar ...

ariel · 26th December 2022, 03:41 PM

You are absolutely correct: axes are encountered in virtually every culture since times immemorial. But I was talking about the length of the haft.

Bartka/valaska of the Carpathian region, Alpenstock of the Alps region, Jerz/ Qaddum of the Southern Aravia all have very long ( ~1 meter) hafts. They are “multitools”, serving not only chopping function, but also helping in walking/ climbing over mountains. And all of them are first and foremost walking aids.

Thus, their small size of axheads might have been a compromise between the efficiency of only occasional need of chopping and the disadvantage of their weights ( compromising walking/climbing). Pure speculation on my part:-)

26th December 2022, 03:41 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	You are absolutely correct: axes are encountered in virtually every culture since times immemorial. But I was talking about the length of the haft. Bartka/valaska of the Carpathian region, Alpenstock of the Alps region, Jerz/ Qaddum of the Southern Aravia all have very long ( ~1 meter) hafts. They are “multitools”, serving not only chopping function, but also helping in walking/ climbing over mountains. And all of them are first and foremost walking aids. Thus, their small size of axheads might have been a compromise between the efficiency of only occasional need of chopping and the disadvantage of their weights ( compromising walking/climbing). Pure speculation on my part:-)