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

Cyprus and the shipwrecks (Figs. 3.25a, b). The mainland’s preferred carpentry/masonry
tools were double axes, chisels, and drills (Fig. 4.29). The Mycenaean double ax was
extremely popular, but mainlanders made several changes to the Neopalatial form before
adopting it in the LH III period—a phase much later than the tool’s period of use on
Crete. Mainland chisels were produced in several different sizes, and at least two types
(one with a wide cutting edge and another with a narrow one) were consistently
stockpiled together in metal hoards. Standardized tool kits—including a double ax,
chisels of variable sizes and the knife—are distinguishable within many mainland caches.
Metal tools appear more regularly on the LBA islands than at the beginning of the
second millennium, but the region’s collection is far less than any other area. As in the
MBA, very few archaeometallurgical remains have turned up to document substantial
metallurgical operations on the islands during the LBA. Three metallurgical tools,
however, indicate sporadic metalworking, specifically the ability to cast metal. These
objects include a pair of tongs from Kos, a mold for chisels or axes from Phylakopi, and a
mold from Ayia Irini for a knife and chisel. There are additional hints of metallurgy
(crucibles and slag) from Building A at Ayia Irini. Although six sickles came to light at
Akrotiri, agricultural tools are infrequent on the islands, a pattern consistent with the
other Aegean areas. Implements used for small crafts are equally as rare. The
overwhelming majority of island tools are utilitarian types, just as on the mainland.
Carpentry/ masonry tools are also documented, albeit with a lower proportion than the
utilitarian ones. The wood- and stone-working tools on the Aegean islands seem to
exhibit characteristics borrowed from surrounding areas.
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