10.04.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Carpentry or masonry utensils represent more than two-thirds of <strong>the</strong> A<strong>the</strong>ns<br />

Acropolis hoard. 666<br />

Thirteen double axes (whole <strong>and</strong> incomplete), seven broad chisels,<br />

one narrow chisel, one knife, one double hammer or ax-hammer, <strong>and</strong> one file make up<br />

what could reasonably be called a kit. Aside <strong>from</strong> four half-pieces <strong>from</strong> different double<br />

axes, <strong>the</strong>se hoarded implements are intact, albeit slightly damaged (Plate 5.19, only<br />

showing two of <strong>the</strong> four fragmented pieces). The disproportionate number of double axes<br />

gives <strong>the</strong> impression of haphazard stockpiling, yet all components of a typical mainl<strong>and</strong><br />

tool set are found in this group. This prospective tool kit fur<strong>the</strong>r demonstrates that<br />

complete <strong>and</strong> broken tools jointly represent <strong>the</strong> range of utensils used by a craftsperson.<br />

The stock of implements <strong>from</strong> An<strong>the</strong>don consists of four double axes (two<br />

complete <strong>and</strong> two fragmentary), one narrow chisel, one trunnion/lugged adze (or ax), at<br />

least two complete knives, <strong>and</strong> one awl (Plate 5.22).<br />

The recently excavated metal hoard found near <strong>the</strong> Arsenal in Thebes offers an<br />

additional illustration of a purposefully-organized implement group.<br />

667<br />

This group of utensils constitutes<br />

a wood- <strong>and</strong> stone-working tool kit. The lengths of <strong>the</strong> intact double axes vary<br />

considerably, implying slightly different requirements within <strong>the</strong> same basic craft. The<br />

presence of double axes, chisels <strong>and</strong> knives toge<strong>the</strong>r is not coincidental. The trunnion/<br />

lugged adze may have been a substitute for a broad chisel, <strong>the</strong>reby providing this stock<br />

with <strong>the</strong> usual blend of narrow <strong>and</strong> wide chisel types.<br />

666 Catling 1964, 296; Spyropoulos 1972, 63-78, 92-97, 202-203.<br />

667 See Spyropoulos 1972, plate 17 for a published photograph of <strong>the</strong> entire hoard.<br />

668 This Thebes hoard was found in 2006; see comments under footnote 572.<br />

668<br />

A customary LH<br />

tool kit with three double axes (one broken), two broad chisels (one fragmentary), a<br />

narrow chisel, <strong>and</strong> three knives (one intentionally bent) was recovered with several o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

metal objects. Different double ax sizes are perceptible, which must have corresponded to<br />

284

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!