Making Must Farm (Pt.1): A Bronze Axe

Join Mark Knight and Dr. James Dilley as they introduce us to the Must Farm Pile Dwelling Settlement and take a closer look at some of the artefacts that were found, dating back to the end of the Bronze Age (1000-800 BC)!
The axe is as much a symbol of our prehistoric past as it was a tool that was important to people thousands of years ago. Thousands of bronze axe heads have been found across the UK, usually as isolated finds, but sometimes as large groups or hoards. Rarely are they found with their wooden handle.
Preserved wood makes up the greatest proportion of material preserved at Must Farm, which goes some way to showing the importance of it in prehistory.
The Must Farm settlement was built on a platform on piles over a river channel. The piles were destroyed by fire, causing the structure to collapse into the river, thereby preserving the contents in situ.
If you want to find out more about this incredible site, visit:
www.mustfarm.com/
Thanks to Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Forterra, Historic England and University of Cambridge for making the production of these video's possible.
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[@fraserbuilds]

what really gets me is just how clean the wood joinery is and how flush the two components sit together. its made so clear by these artifacts that expertise and careful refinement of work was deeply valued even so early on in the development of these crafts

[@Google_Does_Evil_Now]

2:46 omg that handle shape from 3,000 years ago is the same be shape we use today for axes, large hammers, pick axes, and other tools. Clever idea to use a two piece wooden structure. Easier to replace smaller, quicker to make, parts instead of create a whole handle from scratch.

[@trentenswett6306]

One of my first thoughts on the two part axe is that perhaps it was made that way for more utilitarian reasons, you can use the same handle and just replace or repossession the axe head end to use it as an adz as well. Vs making and carrying two separate tools altogether all you really needed to do is just make the forepart and just swap or even just change the angle of it and use it that way.

[@iseriver3982]

You could just turn the axe head sideways to make an adz. I think.
I bet there's a simpler answer for the 3 piece axe. It was fashionable.

[@ryanjamesloyd6733]

I think it also may come down to where your axe handle will break.
I suspect the nub that the axe head sockets on to, wears out faster than the handle, so its easier to drill out and reinforce a good oak burl for a handle, and replace your axe nub, than making a whole new handle.

[@user-qr3nz1wi2j]

The two piece haft would allow you to select a head piece heavier to add weight to the axe head assembly , oak is nice & heavy. The field maple handle does not need weight, just needs to resist splitting at the eye. Elm would have been my choice for that.
The depth of axe cut has as much to do with weight as sharpness, a modern felling axe is often 7lb

[@JoeSkylynx]

One thing that might be worth considering is the tie-off loop could have also served as a latching point for burden bags/straps. Sorta akin to how some tools these days come with built it belt clips on the handles.

[@tao.of.history8366]

I come from the prairies in Canada, anyone else have the expression “to fly off the handle” meaning to get angry & uncontrollable, to lose one’s temper? Literally with an axe head flying off.

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Wow!

[@sypialnia_studio]

Very interesting, thank you

[@OscarFranklin-uu7hg]

Can you imagine the controversy when that forward-looking Bronze Age woodworker said "Blow this, I'm not spending any more time looking for an elbow piece, I'm going to MAKE one!" :)

[@govindmulani4573]

I would love if someone could do a review and tutorial on primitive clothing. Especially how people made clothing to survive in real cold/ice age environments.

[@emmajones6875]

This is a brilliant idea - we've already got some ideas on how to incorporate this into a video (or two!)

[@avnidemiri8649]

I found 10 of these

[@scottpeters5624]

My first thought, it must have been mosquito hell living above a still body of water,
The two part axe : it extends the blade from the handle, so less likly to thump the handle against the tree trunk, at a better chopping angle , unlike an elbow branch type, which would, just my opinion, not a proven fact,
Another fine intressting video, cheers
Edited to add, on bigger tree felling

[@MokuraiDojo]

The 2 types of chisels. Do we have actual ones coming from archeological digs ?

[@ancientcraftUK]

You’ll have to wait for the next episodes in the series!

[@LuxisAlukard]

@@ancientcraftUK Ah, the suspense is killing me!! =)

[@ianbruce6515]

As someone who has done a lot of lashing, binding, knotting and serving in his time--the shown method of lashing the axehead in place just does not ring true. It looks like it would torque the axehead in the wrong way and load the joints between the wood parts in a way that might lead to failure. There are a number of possible alternative lashings.
Perhaps someday an intact lashing will be found.

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Please speak up a little! Otherwise excellent!

[@armandbourque2468]

Only a,theoretician with time to wastewould build an axe haft in that way, when forked limbs are available everywhere. Why do europeans never look to other neolithic cultures?

[@enchanted_golden_apple]

First