Middle and Late Bronze Age Metal Tools from the Aegean, Eastern ...

0.13). 345 The mainland’s longer and narrower shape makes it appear notably elongated
when viewed next to Minoan types. Since the cutting edge widths are so similar in both
regions, the differences found in the mainland examples seem intentional, and probably
an upgrade over the Cretan design. Without experimentation, it is impossible to conclude
whether shorter, thicker double axes from Crete were less efficient than mainland forms,
but the oval shaft holes were far superior to the circular ones. It would seem that the
Mycenaeans developed a more practical and functional double ax, accepting aspects of
the Minoan form while rejecting others. The improvement of the double ax by the
Mycenaeans is perhaps comparable to mainlanders devising a stronger short sword (type
B) that was far more effective than the weakly-hafted, long Minoan sword (type A). 346
D: Single, non-shafted axes and adzes
Non-shafted axes and adzes are divided into three categories in this analysis:
trunnion or lugged axes (and a few adzes); single, flat axes; and single, flat adzes. These
three categories all bear some resemblance to each other. 347
Making identification even
more complicated, they are also comparable to chisels with wide cutting edges. These
tool types all have similar sizes, meaning that they are hard to distinguish. A scatter plot
of the total length (x-axis) by the cutting edge width (y-axis) in Figure 4.3 visually
345 The EH Theban double ax, from an early hoard, partially resembles some Mycenaean double axes. The
EH Theban example has a narrow shaft-hole area in relation to its cutting edges, but the tool has a round
rather than an oval shaft-hole design. The Mycenaean version with the narrow waist is not entirely unique
on the mainland, yet the EH examples can hardly be connected to the LH III Mycenaean specimens.
346 This point was suggested to me by J.C. Wright.
347 It is worthwhile to repeat Petrie’s (1917, 5) list of differences between Egyptian axes and adzes: “The
axe has the edge parallel to the handle; the adze has it across the handle. The axe is mounted into a handle,
or a handle into it; the adze is bound on to a handle, in general. The axe is equal faced and edged; the adze
has one face longer or flatter, and is usually ground on one side. The axe is to drive into wood to split it; the
adze is to take a thin slip off a larger mass. The axe usually has a short body, and means of pulling it back
or twisting it loose from the grip of the cloven wood; the adze has a long body, and (in ancient times) only
a weak attachment to the handle, as it was never struck in deeply. The axe is thick in order to bear shock
and carry weight; the adze is thinner, strength not being required.”
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