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

4.21). Minoan double axes and saws far outnumber similar tools from other areas. A few
different kinds of saws are apparent on Crete, and they are regularly longer and thicker
than examples found elsewhere. On average, the earlier Cretan double axes are shorter
overall and wider at the shaft hole (from its top to bottom) in comparison to mainland
examples. Standard Cretan double axes incorporate rounded shaft holes as part of the
hafting system. Chisels occur in every region, yet large elongated chisels with wide
cutting edges are uniquely Minoan. Such chisels were recovered outside Crete at Akrotiri,
the Mycenae shaft graves, and the Lefkas graves, but the implement’s form was not
adopted in other areas.
In addition to the Minoan high regard for the double ax, other shafted and
double-ended (often combination) tools are a defining characteristic of the Cretan
repertoire (see F1-F4 in Fig. 4.21). These implements consist of double adzes, ax-adzes,
double hammers, ax-hammers, adze-hammers and pick-adzes. As with the double axes,
these shafted tools usually have a round shaft hole. Crete also has produced a substantial
number of hollow metallic cylinders (far more than elsewhere; G2 in Fig. 4.21); these
tubes have been interpreted in the past as metal sleeves for tubular wooden saw handles.
This identification is questionable, and the possibility exists that the metal cylinders were
tubular drill bits. Circular mortise holes are recognized on Crete (mostly from Mallia),
but these holes do not equal the larger number found at Hattusha, Tiryns, and Mycenae.
Greek Mainland (Fig. 4.22):
Carpentry/masonry tools dramatically increase from the MH to the LH eras. The
three typical mainland wood- and stone-working implements are double axes, chisels and
drills (see C, E1, G1 in Fig. 4.22). The popularity of the double axes on Crete and the
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