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

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Metal hammers, particularly sledgehammers, were principally smithing tools,
but are included in the count here because of their shafted and double ended nature. The
discernment of these tool categories can be challenging, particularly when adze and ax
ends are severely battered. When adze or ax ends were damaged in this manner, they may
have functioned like a hammer.
Regional total MBA LBA General 2 nd millennium
Crete 8 - 6 2
Mainland 3 - 2 1
Cyprus 4 1 3 -
Anatolia 1 - - 1
Syria-Palestine - - - -
Shipwrecks - - - -
Total 16 1 11 4
Table 4.14: Shafted, double hammer distribution
Shafted double hammers occur chiefly in the Aegean and more sporadically in
Cyprus and Anatolia (Table 4.14). The size of these hammers varies, ranging from a
miniature double hammer in the Mycenae Poros Wall hoard (4.6 x 2.4 cm) to a large,
shafted sledgehammer from the Enkomi Foundry hoard (16.7 x 7.5 cm and 3.5
kilograms). At least nine double hammers, with two blunt hammer heads, were
intentionally cast in that form. These are typically large hammers, in all likelihood
designed for metallurgical purposes. On the other hand, seven double hammers were
initially double axes or double adzes before being converted into hammers (Plate 4.37).
This alteration of tool and function was either deliberate or a result of excessive damage
to both edges of double ax or adze. Converted double hammers are known from Enkomi,
İskilip, and a series of Minoan sites (Gournia, Praisos, Psychro, Zakros, and unknown).
Since double axes are so abundant on Crete, it is understandable that the greatest portion
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