Iowa Masterpiece

[Hippy]

I was down at a show in Kentucky this past weekend but I sent Dad out to take a look at an axe that I saw coming up for sale. I knew it had the chance to be a good one but didn't really expect to be this nice. Here's a few pics of what I found when I got home. It measures 8-1/8" long x 3-1/4" long and made of a bluish green hardstone with small black specks. It was found in Keokuk County, Iowa and is undoubtedly the best axe in our collection. Axes of this quality and size are extremely rare even in an area where lots of axes are found. This was certainly made with a lot of care and pride by a skilled axe maker. The lines are crisp and well formed and the symmetry is outstanding. The interesting thing about this axe is the amount of use wear it displays. It was not only a piece of art but heavily used.

Hippy

[rob.s]

That is a beauty

[BARKER]

Can you tell us how old it is and maybe about the people that used it Incredible find. BANNER. !!!!!

PEACE:RONB

[tmodel]

might pretty ax i am still looking for me one 1/2 or less that good. Terry

[iowa trout]

Yep,Koekuk co. Ia. finest axes in the world thanks for shareing Hippy

[Hippy]

Can you tell us how old it is and maybe about the people that used it Incredible find. BANNER. !!!!!

PEACE:RONB

Well RonB, grooved axes such as these are anywhere from 2500 to as far as 6000 years old. With native americans of that age there is no real tribal association but rather we use time periods to discuss what they were doing, i.e. early archaic, middle archaic, etc. They started making axes in the middle archaic period and by most accounts full groove axes were the first to be made. There was an archaic camp dug close to me called Eisle's Hill and axes were coming from a layer that carbdon dated to 3500 B.C.

The oldest ground stone tools being made are hardstone adzes. At Koster site in Illinois they found hardstone adzes in early archaic sites dating back as far as 7000 B.C.

Stone axes are actually very effective wood cutting tools. I've had the chance to use a stone celt hafted in ancient methods and cut through a 10" diameter log in less than 10 minutes. Axes were also used for other things like hammers. Many times the poll of an axe will show great wear as well which leads you to believe they were turning them around and using them as hammers. We have found many axes with the polls broken out which leads to the hammer idea.

In regards to why axes are so concentrated in my area I have a couple of thoughts. First, there was lots of wood and large trees to be cut in the river valleys. Also, there were lots available tool stone to make quality axes. Most axes are made from diorite or some derivative and there is no shortage of quality material to choose from. A lot of the higher quality tool stone is found in glacial till brought down from Canada during the last ice age.

A final thought as to why they spent so much time making fine axes: We very rarely find anything ornamental in nature around here. Very few bannerstones, pendants, gorgets, birdstones, etc. However, we do get the best axes found anywhere on the planet. My thought is that these finely made axes supplanted the need to have the other kinds ornaments. These axes were a source of pride with their maker. Since they weren't making other sorts of ornamentals they used axes to show their status, skill, age, or whatever. Obviously there's nothing that I can say with any sort of certainty but this is something I've wondered over the years and it's the best idea that I've come up with.

Hippy

[BARKER]

Hi Hippy; Thanks. That is really cool. It could be a Museum piece fror sure. They'd drool over that one for sure. I have detecting for over 39 years and NEVER found even an arrowhead. Anyway, great ind. Your problem now is : FIND another one hahaha. !! Thanks. Happy ThanksGiving. PEACE:RONB

[naturegirl]

Thanks for that information hippy, and your own thoughts on 'why', interesting