What was a palstave used for?
A more plausible theory is that this object was used to create moulds, The lead version could be pushed into clay or sand to form the shape into which a bronze axe could be cast. The term ‘palstave’ is often used to describe this type of axe.
What is a palstave axe?
A palstave is a type of early bronze axe. It was common in the middle Bronze Age in northern, western and south-western Europe. In these respects, it is very close, but distinct from, earlier ‘flanged axes’. Palstaves were cast in bivalve moulds made of clay, stone or bronze.
What was an axe used for in the Bronze Age?
At the beginning of the Bronze Age, metal axes were treated as special objects. At the end of the Bronze Age, when iron had already started to be used, it is almost as if symbolic axes were used as a form of currency, as a measure of wealth.
What were weapons made of before bronze?
Before bronze, stone (such as flint and obsidian) was used as the primary material for edged cutting tools and weapons. Stone, however, is too brittle for long, thin implements such as swords. With the introduction of copper, and subsequently bronze, knives could be made longer, leading to the sword.
What is the point of a double sided axe?
Dual Purpose – When one side is kept sharp and the other intentionally dull, double-bit axes are essentially two axes rolled into one tool. Versatility – Double-bit axes can easily cycle through cutting, chopping, and splitting jobs, unlike many other axes.
What was the most effective sword in history?
Primarily a stabbing weapon, the gladius was at its most effective when used within a disciplined formation where troops could protect themselves with shields while making vicious thrusting attacks against the enemy.
Were Bronze Age swords cast?
In the later Bronze Age, swords were cast in one piece, including the grip and pommel (the knob at the top of the handle or hilt). Many differing pommel shapes also emerged.
What kind of axe was the palstave made of?
A palstave with an additional loop. A palstave is a type of early bronze axe. It was common in the middle Bronze Age in northern, western and south-western Europe.
What was the purpose of the bronze palstave?
A more plausible theory is that this object was used to create moulds, The lead version could be pushed into clay or sand to form the shape into which a bronze axe could be cast. The term ‘palstave’ is often used to describe this type of axe. However the term is misleading.
Where did the term palstave come from in archaeology?
Palstaves were cast in bivalve moulds made of clay, stone or bronze. The archaeologist John Evans (1881, 72) popularized the term ‘palstave’ in English following Danish archaeologists who borrowed the term from Icelandic: paalstab. Confusingly, a paalstab is not an axe, but a digging tool.