Help to identify an axe with engraving.

[CutlassCollector]

This axe was found in a riverbank near Fort Myers in Florida. It has an engraving including the letter R and appears to be made of bronze. The owner thought it may have connections to Native American culture but I think that seems unlikely.

Any thoughts or suggestions around its use, origin or the engraving would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, CC

[mross]

I do not think it is Native American. Most if not all of their metal tools where trade items and where not bronze. Just does not look like anything attributed to them.

[Battara]

Not Native American, but sort of looks India or even Persian-ish to me.

[CutlassCollector]

Thanks mross and Battara, these were my thoughts also.
Presumably Native Americans jumped straight from stone and bone to iron and steel over a short time period.

Does anyone else see a connection to India/Persia in the style of the marking? Or symbols of fertility?

Why make an axe out of bronze with steel readily available for many centuries?

Regards CC

[David R]

I have seen trade tomahawks in brass, sometimes with an inset edge of steel.... So I would have a look at what the fur trade was bringing in to the US.

[CutlassCollector]

Hi David,

Thanks for that. A quick search brings up some examples so it keeps the 'local' option alive. It also flagged up bronze being used in Central America and Mexico areas but probably too far back for this axe.

Regards,
CC