AUS Aboriginal hand axe

Billman · 20th October 2013, 12:02 AM

Why throw a stone axe that has taken several hours to flake, when a pebble of the same size will inflict pretty much the same amount of damage???

Tim Simmons · 20th October 2013, 08:18 AM

Perhaps there is more striking edge, like the concentration of force found with the striking edges on wood clubs. The shape might aid throwing rather in the same way one would select the right stone to throw and make skip over water. As you can see the knapping has clearly been done in a quick and deft manner.

Tim Simmons · 20th October 2013, 09:08 AM

While discussing throwing stones, why are these throwing stones from Vanuatu {New Hebrides} not just found rocks and pebbles. You can see that nos 9 -16 have clearly been knapped? No 7 looks like a lot of work has gone into it. I can only imagine these stone being hurled end over end. I think they might hurt a little if you caught one in the face.

Billman · 20th October 2013, 09:27 PM

These throwing stones appear to have some of the aerodynamic properties of boomerangs, the hand (?) axe shown is assymetric, and would probably not have a stable flight geometry due to its Cof G being eccentric...

josh stout · 20th October 2013, 10:03 PM

Tim-

I have been searching for historic examples of throwing stones, and these are the first sharp ones I have seen listed as such. Can you please give me the reference? (Just saw that you listed the reference above. Is that the one?)

I am working on testing the aerodynamics of cement replicas weighted with lead to match the originals. So far, they throw very nicely. I can stick the Acheulean version into the ground like playing mumblety-peg with a knife.

josh stout · 20th October 2013, 10:53 PM

The best paper on ethnographic throwing.

http://courses.washington.edu/war101...isaac_1987.pdf

josh stout · 21st October 2013, 01:22 AM

The basic shape of hand axes is incredibly consistent for over 2 million years. It is the thing we have made the most of for the longest time. They were replaced by the rich array of weapons developed by modern humans, but seemingly persisted in some cultures into modern times. How can we not know what they are? They have to be the equivalent of the ubiquitous hunting knife, and they have some similarities. The thick edge is more like that of a hunting knife than a chef’s knife. Flakes would be much finer cutting tools; these were for butchery, and perhaps the occasional fight.

Personally though, once you have held one in your hand, it is difficult to escape the idea that they would be very effective when thrown. Given that making a sharp edge all the way around is more difficult that leaving one blunt for grasping, there must be a reason for it.

20th October 2013, 09:08 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	While discussing throwing stones, why are these throwing stones from Vanuatu {New Hebrides} not just found rocks and pebbles. You can see that nos 9 -16 have clearly been knapped? No 7 looks like a lot of work has gone into it. I can only imagine these stone being hurled end over end. I think they might hurt a little if you caught one in the face. Attached Images

20th October 2013, 10:03 PM	#5
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Tim- I have been searching for historic examples of throwing stones, and these are the first sharp ones I have seen listed as such. Can you please give me the reference? (Just saw that you listed the reference above. Is that the one?) I am working on testing the aerodynamics of cement replicas weighted with lead to match the originals. So far, they throw very nicely. I can stick the Acheulean version into the ground like playing mumblety-peg with a knife. Last edited by josh stout; 21st October 2013 at 01:32 AM.

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20th October 2013, 12:02 AM	#1
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Why throw a stone axe that has taken several hours to flake, when a pebble of the same size will inflict pretty much the same amount of damage???

20th October 2013, 08:18 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Perhaps there is more striking edge, like the concentration of force found with the striking edges on wood clubs. The shape might aid throwing rather in the same way one would select the right stone to throw and make skip over water. As you can see the knapping has clearly been done in a quick and deft manner.

20th October 2013, 09:27 PM	#4
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	These throwing stones appear to have some of the aerodynamic properties of boomerangs, the hand (?) axe shown is assymetric, and would probably not have a stable flight geometry due to its Cof G being eccentric...

20th October 2013, 10:53 PM	#6
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	The best paper on ethnographic throwing. http://courses.washington.edu/war101...isaac_1987.pdf

21st October 2013, 01:22 AM	#7
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	The basic shape of hand axes is incredibly consistent for over 2 million years. It is the thing we have made the most of for the longest time. They were replaced by the rich array of weapons developed by modern humans, but seemingly persisted in some cultures into modern times. How can we not know what they are? They have to be the equivalent of the ubiquitous hunting knife, and they have some similarities. The thick edge is more like that of a hunting knife than a chef’s knife. Flakes would be much finer cutting tools; these were for butchery, and perhaps the occasional fight. Personally though, once you have held one in your hand, it is difficult to escape the idea that they would be very effective when thrown. Given that making a sharp edge all the way around is more difficult that leaving one blunt for grasping, there must be a reason for it.