Swedish archaeologists discovered two rare axes made from elk horns during exploratory work at a prehistoric settlement site near the town of Luddoköpinge in Skåne, southern Sweden, a finding that adds new data to the study of tools used by ancient societies.
The archaeological news platform HeritageDaily reported in an article published two days ago that the axes were found during archaeological excavations carried out last spring near Luddoköpinge. The Swedish newspaper Svensk Historia detailed the artifacts, noting that axes made from elk horns are relatively rare in Sweden compared to Denmark, where a larger number of similar examples have been found.
Initial examination revealed that one of the artifacts suffered severe erosion, while the other is in better preservation, featuring a hole for handle attachment and a shaped and polished cutting edge. The two axes were found in pits tentatively dated to the Bronze Age, which spanned approximately between 1700 and 500 BC.
Researchers note that axes made from animal horns were used in prehistoric periods, but the purpose of the two newly discovered axes remains undetermined; they may have been used for woodcutting, while symbolic or ritual functions remain a possibility requiring further research. The discovery offers an opportunity to deepen the study of tool-making techniques, daily activities, and cultural practices of Bronze Age societies.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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