Hand axe
Production date
Unknown
Country
Australia
State/Province
Queensland
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Object detail
Description
Hand axe, rough axe blank.
Classification
INDIGENOUS CULTURES Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander axe
Maker
Production date
Unknown
Production place
Measurements
L91 mm x W 82.5 mm X H34 mm
Media/Materials description
Basalt
History and use
Aboriginal axe heads were generally made from volcanic rock. They began as large flakes, river cobbles, or cores of stone, prepared into a useable shape usually by hammer dressing then one edge was sharpened, usually by grinding. Sometimes hatchets and axes were hafted into a wooden or cane handle so they could be used for chopping and cleaving wood and bark. The Kalkadoon people, traditional owners of a large region encompassing Mt Isa, excavated this prized rock from the many quarries in their country. They then formed the rock into partially finished and finished axes for trade. Axes from the Mt Isa region were traded south through the Lake Eyre region.
Registration number
QE26752
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