Flanged Axe

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During the Chalcolithic period, also known as the Copper Age, and Early Bronze Age, early metal axe heads were flat and fixed to a wooden shaft with organic binding. These wooden handles were highly susceptible to breakage when used, which was likely a significant drawback. However, by the middle of the Bronze Age, axe designs had become much more advanced. The flanges on this cast bronze axe securely held the wooden handle in place, preventing it from slipping and splitting during use. The advancements made in bronze casting technology around 2000 BC enabled the creation of more complex shapes, resulting in better-designed axes that lasted longer and were more efficient. Axes of this design were widely used from approximately 1500 to 1000 BC. This particular axe was discovered near Upper Dounreay in Caithness, Scotland.