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

An implement-rich cache from Mochlos’ House C.3 (Room 2.2) was interpreted
as that of a metal merchant. 656 Two tongs and two other tools believed to be ingot
breakers also provide an aspect of metalworking to the hoard. 657
Nine double axes, eight
knives, six broad chisels, one wedge-like chisel (probably a “cold chisel”), and one
double adze also comprise part of the assemblage. The abundance of these tools hint at a
structured grouping, and the repetition of certain implements may imply several smaller
tool sets.
A comparable array of hoarded tools was recovered from the northeast corner of
Mochlos’ House C.3. More than twelve kilograms of oxhide ingot fragments and a pair
of tongs are touted as signs of a foundry hoard. Despite the large amount of raw copper,
the hoard’s tools were not scrap. Two double axes, two broad chisels (of different sizes),
two knives, a broken saw, a rasp, a “ceremonial” double ax fragment, and an awl serve as
658
a plausible tool kit. The choice of double axes, chisels and knives replicates a tool set
characteristic of mainland hoards. From the Mochlos House C.7 hoard, two double axes
and two knives may constitute a partial implement kit. Previously, this cache was
ascribed a foundry purpose because of two oxhide ingot fragments. 659
Tool kits in Greek mainland hoards (See Fig. 5.2; Appendix 3): Implement sets
are identifiable within the LH metal assemblages, and double axes, chisels (normally two
distinct sizes) and knives are the tools incorporated most often. There are at least eleven
different mainland hoards from the 13 th through 12 th -century that contain potential craft
sets, including the Mylonas (Mycenae), Poros Wall (Mycenae), Schliemann (Mycenae),
656 Soles 2008, 148-151.
657 Soles 2008, 148-151.
658 Soles and Davaras 1996, 194-198; Soles 2008, 147.
659 Soles and Davaras 1996, 201; Soles 2008, 147.
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