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

(like Minoan types) as opposed to the oval shafts typical for the mainland double axes.
Carpentry/masonry tool connections between Cyprus and the Greek mainland are rather
non-existent. Trunnion/lugged axes and socketed chisels on Cyprus date mostly to the
LC, and these are prominent in Anatolia but scarce in the Aegean. Although solid drills
were discovered in every region, they are especially frequent in LBA Cypriot contexts.
While the Cypriot tool repertoire reveals some commonalities with Minoan
implements, the Cretan tool industry was hardly adopted in full by Cyprus. Preeminent
Minoan tools, like large curving saws and elongated chisels with broad cutting edges, are
absent on Cyprus. Furthermore, the double ax, so prominent on Crete and the mainland,
is surprisingly rare on Cyprus (only four examples) and even then the Cypriot double
axes show differences from Minoan-type specimens. On the other hand, certain tools like
the double adze and the adze-hammer occur exclusively on Crete and Cyprus, albeit in
limited quantities.
The potential tool links between Crete and Cyprus are hindered by a lack of
chronological compatibility, since the 13 th and 12 th century Cypriot tools compare best to
the 17 th –15 th century Neopalatial implements. It is unclear how select Minoan elements
ended up on Cyprus near the end LBA. Catling envisioned Mycenaeans bringing
“Aegean” and Minoan features with their supposed migratory movements to Cyprus. 518
This historical reconstruction is doubted by many but remains a matter of debate. 519
It is
sufficient for the current discussion to note the overall dissimilarity between Mycenaean
and Cypriot tool assemblages. Perhaps Cypriots traveled throughout the Aegean,
observed Neopalatial craft traditions still in practice during the LM III period, and
518 Catling 1964.
519 Voskos and Knapp 2008.
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