Ancient Stone vs. Copper Axe

stone vs copper

[@jedihunter176]

"This handaxe is several thousands of years old."
*proceeds to bash it against a tree*

[@WhiteBoisBeLike]

THIS MADE ME CRY😂

[@rockaura1717]

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLlololololololololololololoIolololol

[@Aleph-Noll]

i was gonna say the same thing hahah

[@crikeycrikeys9699]

If they are extremely common artifacts, there are probably enough of them around to use some for useful primitive demonstrations. Using the original Otzi copper axe on the other hand would be a disgrace haha...

[@ymishaus2266]

Not that big a deal when you remember 99% of rocks are several thousands of years old.

[@TheCuriousNoob]

Always find it magical thinking how people figured out a process to extract workable metal from ore. Back then... the Stone Age lasted for tens of thousands of years or more and then some geniuses figured out how to make copper tools. 5-6000 years later we're planning on sending people to colonize other worlds. It makes me wonder what kinds of things humans will be doing in even another 1,000 years. It'd be interesting to go back to the year 1016 and try and explain that even common people will be able to fly (yeah right) around the globe in less than a day (impossible!) amongst other things incomprehensible to them like computers and the internet.

[@mr.shepherd_1776]

The Curious Noob yep it takes innovation and overcoming the hurdles of disbelief.

[@bilbo_gamers6417]

Imagine going back 15 years and explaining that you could stream live video from your phone, and that privatized space travel and autonomous driving is already a reality

[@Zamolxes77]

It would be much more interesting to explain to them how they'll be able to live like kings until 80-90 years old, with plenty of food and not get sick and if they do get sick, how they can be healed by swallowing a pill.

[@drumqid]

2.5 million years of stone technology! The use of stone tools in itself is an amazing trait and a huge driving factor in our evolution.

[@jhtsurvival]

I also think the discovery of metallurgy and ore extraction and smelting is amazing.. like how did they discover it? Did they come across a massive fire that had melted something? Or were they experimenting with ore for some other reason? They didn't just say " hey let's make metal" when they had never had it before. They must have come Across something to get the idea

[@rustyshackleford6533]

Ancient caveman: this butt wiping stone is effective everyone should use one
Modern man: this axe is likely several thousand years old

[@spongebobsquarepants8403]

You guys use rocks?

[@plagueinater]

@@spongebobsquarepants8403 you use seaweed don't you

[@RoguePreparedness]

You know, I too thought that copper axe would be too fragile. But it really took that tree out! Awesome video!

[@adannn]

1:39 thats how the flash does cutting down trees

[@-ahvilable-6654]

I suspect he increased the speed of the video!

[@Skonnchy]

-Ah vilable- r/whoosh

[@TheWoodedBeardsman]

Interesting stuff!

[@felixelsayed9932]

The Wooded Beardsman nobody reconiced you, but I did :-)

[@thatoneguy3390]

I'm 2 years late but...hi!

[@iron1975]

And you are..?

[@gotrocksinhead]

What a great video! The advantage of even copper over stone is amazing. Good to see you put the stone to use :) I love the rabid woodpecker shots...

[@arcadioflores8982]

you snould make more videos dan

[@beardeddragonlife3241]

gotrocksinhead s

[@Katalowins]

incredible how much value a simple alloy could provide. imagine transitioning from stone plows with difficult shaping procedures to a casted copper spade.

[@KabertaKneeGr0wCxntman]

stone plows lol

[@RaeSyngKane]

Hey Shawn, really liked the video.
With the stone axe there are several things that are important to keep in mind. First off, yours is a very nice example and you definitely want to keep it in good condition. Ancient peoples, while careful, would definitely put a little more oomph behind it. Second, many of the trees in Europe are softer woods than the trees of North America. Even steel axes had to change shape to survive the beatings they took in the new world. Lastly, in using a stone axe the goal was not as much to cut the tree down as it was to chisel enough away to lever it free or for the weight of the tree to break it.
The theories I've read as to why copper was the first working tool metal made sense. It melts at a low enough temperature that early man would be able to notice that stones around their campfire were melting. Malachite (copper ore) forms bright green copper oxide when exposed to air making it easily identifiable. It also contains very high concentrations of copper making it easy for the early less efficient processes.

[@johnaffleck6572]

Kind of an amazing U-Tube channel. I bought the Archery books a few years ago; and made a few long-bows out of IPE; that fell into my hands; using modern files, and steel scrapers and such. But people like you who actually make arrow heads, and arrows, and bows the way you do still seem like magicians to me. I certainly appreciate how impressive your results are.

[@scooper4981]

Interesting video. My father and I collected ancient American relics by searching cultivated fields in Missouri back in the 1960s and 70s. We found several grooved axes (both fully grooved and 3/4 grooved, plus celts, which are ungrooved stone axe heads). I often wondered how the grooved axe heads would work in cutting trees and your video answered that -- they didn't work very well! However, I have a small celt, about 5" long, made out of hematite (iron ore) that has a very sharp bit edge, perhaps almost as sharp as a copper axe. The hematite from which the celt was made must be quite pure, because it looks much like an iron axe head. It would be interesting to compare the cutting abilities of the copper axe head and the one made out of hematite.

[@davidstarr6604]

When you speeded up the camera to show the chopping, all I could think of was, dude lay off the coffee LOL. Great video thx

[@dakotarogers8828]

I loved this video. Hopefully going to see more arrows and other cool builds in the near future. Keep up the great work.

[@rhyswheeler19]

But you have to consider the time to make each axe. The mining, purifying and forging of the bronze axe is much more work than the stone axe. Plus you can use different types of stone but for copper you need copper oar

[@dwightehowell6062]

The time savings is really not what I expected before I listened to what tool users had to say. I was thinking the much harder polished stone axes would have cut better but both you and Time Team agree that the cuts with stone are rattier and take longer.
What the possession of a copper ax meant is rather harder to fathom. It was assumed that only the elite would have such a tool and many people don't think that Otzi was an elite so......

[@dwightehowell6062]

+Pedro Coutin Portuondo I've never tried it. I've watched the people on Time Team give a it a go more than once and you have to mine the ore and process the ore then make a heck of a lot of charcoal and then somebody has to make and work the bellows after making the furnace & the smelting process takes a rather long time so I think it actually is that hard.

[@recoveringsoul755]

Dwight E Howell I just watched a video with people using lung power and blow tubes to make malachite into copper. I had no idea that copper came from malachite. I wasn't too good at Chemistry. But yes, they would need to acquire the malachite to start with.

[@00Klingon]

I miss these older videos. I’d love to see more exploration of how these ancient tools were used. Could either of these axes be used to split wood harvested this way to find dry kindling when conditions were wet? How hard would it be to process bark etc? I’d love to see these used for all the practical applications of an axe.

[@felixstr9082]

I've made an axe with antler blade.
It is made almost the same was Ötzis axe is.
It performs really well.

[@williamwhite9481]

Could you make a video of it, that sounds really cool

[@PossumMedic]

I would hate to have lived in the copper age :S A lot better than stone but it looks like so much work to make for such a soft metal!
Thanks for another great video!

[@WadcaWymiaru]

Compare to metal blades, rock ones will never rust.

[@brendanlyster195]

Yes!! Another awesome vid by Shawn Woods!! The first copper axe you had that broke when you where chopping the yew for the bow, did you make that one as well?Keep up the good work! I just love the vids!

[@Alarix246]

Well there were two things I noticed that slowed down your cutting (and as the prehistoric men knew it, they avoided it, if they didn't specifically need fresh, living wood): 1) cutting live tree - dry wood is choppable much faster and 2) chopping at waist height plus young tree caused the tree to recoil each time, which lowers the effectiveness of chopping significantly.

[@MrBottlecapBill]

I'll add to that list. Stone tools were NEVER used totally dull. They would be sharpened........always. Trees that small would be bent to add tension to the fibers before you start chopping and then broken off once the tree gave way. Large stone blades like the hand axe are often more effective as saws rather than axes. Ancient people worked smarter, not harder. Working hard when your next meal wasn't always predictable is often a death sentence.

[@PhilSallaway]

Nice... not sure if this is correct it is my understanding that the stone hand axe was held and swung from the narrow end VS the middle

[@KenGames45]

I suspect the discovery of copper ore refining happened on accident. A potter mag have tried to use powdered copper ore as a glaze and found that it melted into copper.

[@searley889]

Hey Shawn would you be able to make a video on how to make a primitive bird hunting arrow.

[@TheTribeOfBenjamin]

Cool video, Shawn! Good to see that stone axe in use!.....Ben

[@robinlillian9471]

So, that stone axe lasted thousands of years. My modern pruning saw lasted maybe two years.

[@kennethmaddock5654]

Seems to me, it would have been easier to find a young beaver and train it to do the work for you,👅

[@1959Berre]

The ancient copper contains impurities and other metals which makes it harder than pure copper.

[@gunsmith19971997]

one thing i always wanted to know was how the natives was able to stay warm in winter and was able to get enough wood for fire with just stone tools can u make a video on how u think they did it shawn ?

[@snookaone]

Excellent demonstration. Thanks a lot for it. Also comes into play that the stone axe will dull and flint at some point, which are not practical to fix due to the nature of the material (stones), while the copper axe will also dull or bend over time, but on copper, these damages can be easily fixed. Copper is also easy to polish, and beautiful when freshly polished, aswell as more rare than regular stones, which probably resulted in it being a symbol of status. Another good quality of it is that it is soft and easy to mold or work into thin and elaborate shapes such as needles and other small tools. Even if you could craft such items out of stones, they would probably be too easy to break. Another thing to keep in mind when talking about copper, is that its rust is not as destructive or deforming as the iron rust, resulting in it actually holding a high value even deep into the iron age. Iron tools can also easily and quickly shape copper, something that would be hard to do on other iron items as material hardness control was not as practical with wrougth iron as it is with carbon steel.

[@josh5343]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lol

[@williamwhite9481]

Stone axe edges actually dont chip easily at all when the edge is ground

[@williamwhite9481]

They also dont need to be resharpened ever believe it or not. I like to sharpen mine after cutting a few trees but they definitely dont need to.

[@mikesterbrau]

I loved it, thanks so much for doing this video! Keep it up!

[@williamwhite9481]

It took me almost three years to realize why Dan's channel is called got rocks in head

[@TheWhoamaters]

Not an expert but last I knew a celt axe was the style of pressure fitting

[@trevorschmidt9066]

I love the vids. Keep them coming.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Copper is clearly much better than stone but it will eventually wear down and dull but it can be sharpened again easily enough.

[@coreycoffell6219]

With modern science this contest is still going on...and a belt grinder is still the stone age.

[@norsepool5273]

Wow...short simple but very informative and educational. Thumbs up from Deadpool

[@davidnagore725]

Have you ever considered pursuing and anthropological degree? The stuff you've posted on TH-cam alone could be the beginning of a great thesis in experimental archeology. No joke. I made a similar suggestion to the youtuber on "Primitive Technology".

[@coreym8580]

While you're figuring out how to get away from shorts, this kind of content would be fantastic to see again! And 'primitive technology' videos are still pretty generally popular.

[@ComradeSulomon]

Thought this guy sounded familiar then I realized this is the mousetrap guy!

[@fudgedogbannana]

Man was never primitive, those that didn't have copper tools made stone tools for what ever job at hand, same with stone spear and arrow heads.

[@albertmata724]

wow nice ... not to many of us Humans know what your teaching ... Thanks

[@busybythecreek701]

What kind of rock was that celt made of. It looked like sandstone

[@yungspoon5156]

Anybody else think that the copper axe sounds like a woodpecker

[@grigoriyefimovichrasputin7897]

That stone axe needs to be hafted to a better handle one that is longer and the handle should take the impact of the stone striking the tree by it cuffing the axe head, but the edge grind on the head of the axe In my opinion should be a chiseled edge.

[@Adventurer-Rikth]

People are in a habit of throwing uneducated opinions around... Yes Copper is a "softer" metal but it is not a "soft" material. Its still a metal amd ot will do great. Heck even silver of that size and weight would do a better job than stone leave alone copper.

[@isiahrodriguez64]

copper really changed the world

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

at what point in time do you think iron axes came onto the scene?

[@mzmadmike]

"This is thousands of years old. I'm going to beat it against a tree." But it held up. Though it should have been a sharpened repro.

[@slehar]

Great video! I always wondered... now I know. Thanks!

[@slapshot1x]

Great video. Well done.

[@andrewsanders602]

I think that once you have weakened the branch you would then just break it.

[@Crazywaffle5150]

I call it a time when men truly started to refine science and technology. :). Super interesting. It is crazy that we went from stones to driving around in huge peaces of metal on wheels. Lol.

[@johnnikomerenillo3512]

Shawn have a power called time he can speed things up

[@b.c.survival3467]

Great video maybe you should show how to make the hand ax.

[@isiahrodriguez64]

I have no doubt I'd be able to cut down a tree with a primitive hand axe, but boy am I glad I dont have to!

[@MaxHohenstaufen]

correction: "pre-history of man". History came later, with writting.

[@KowboyUSA]

Awesome video; as always.

[@A-G-F-]

Kinda felt bad when you used the handaxe, that thing is probably worth more than my house lol

[@smokymountainoutdoorsman1991]

I feel like I could have broken the tree down with my hands faster than that stone axe cut it. Lol.

[@busybythecreek701]

ya, sure, would you like to test that

[@williamwhite9481]

It would split if you just tried to break it

[@grisbosque2614]

Ive been wondering about this very issue long term. since learning of Otzi a couple years ago. whether the copper axe was functionally better.
I think Otzi might have been part of a raiding party, probably for women.
(there was no money to steal)

[@jasminjasmin8241]

Tumbnail: Ancient copper
Titel: ancient stone

[@alierrtrillo9368]

Who taught this boy how to chop wood?

[@WMcKay3645]

Thank God for steel.

[@Judge_Mike]

would be great to compare with steel also

[@sabercat2178]

>not making your own hand axe but instead bashing an actual artifact against a tree
Shawn I love you but why did you this? That thing belongs in a museum, not in a primitive bushcraft video. Cmon man.

[@thepalerider5121]

!!! You forgot to Scream TIMBER !!!

[@Derpinator-uz2vc]

Don't break that precious artifact

[@generalfish8849]

Says that the hand axe is several thousand years old, *bashes it against tree

[@JaySeraphon]

>tells us one is an actual millennias old hand axe
>me while he's describing: "nononono please don't use that thing it should be in a museum
>uses it
>me: *SCREAMING INTERNALLY*

[@edwardbittojr2477]

SOUNDS OF WOODIE WOODPECKER

[@shade3538]

1:05 real life
2:10 minecraft

[@Despara5T]

Cool video.

[@ssmmkk82]

hey shawn i like your videos keep them coming..
have you ever watched [primitive technology] youtube videos?i think you'dd like them if you haven't seen them yet.

[@rogersy6742]

GOTROCKSINHEAD?! I LOVE THAT GUY LOL

[@cosmicbilly]

Lol this makes my boys axe seem like a light saber... Thank god humans invented found steel lol

[@danielkim9302]

keep up the good work

[@sosteve9113]

nice comparision
atb
steve

[@kenmichener8439]

Sean you know if you go to the very bottom of the tree there is no flex it's all cut the lower you go the better you cut just trying to help it's a fact oh bro try it out love your content love where you doing God bless you and yours

[@ThunderMountainTactical]

As always. COOL!!

[@Observed69]

Wow I love axes

[@williamwhite9481]

Same. I like making primitive tools and the axe is by far my favorite.

[@tusk3260]

try the celt ston axe its far better its made to be used with big hits

[@josepimann7384]

this is a comment for interaction score.
thanks for the video.

[@lopo8000]

was this the old minecraft mode

[@paulharris2082]

Probably

[@Luis_Facil]

Yes

[@babyraccyt3451]

minecraft in a nutshell

[@vaffelgris]

I like how you call Ötzi ootzi

[@phalanyx3478]

Shawn, have you ever seen a channel called newearth? Check her channel out, really interesting finds regarding history.

[@JohnLeePettimoreIII]

1:36 you might want to switch to decaf.

[@ioann235]

Copper axe was handy to show high status and whack enemy heads. Bronze, latter on, was expensive as well and used for weapons shields ornaments statues dishes for nobility etc. Until the iron age stones were used very often.
Iron was cheap enough to be used for plows in agriculture etc...

[@tijlaerts]

Bronze axes, sickles & plow blades were certainly used during the bronze age in most places. Bronze plow blades didn't shatter like stone ones could. Metal sickles are a gamechanger for harvesting grains.
Copper & bronze are certainly much more expensive than iron, and some stone tools stayed in use untill the iron age. But bronze tools were certainly used.

[@tonycallme3667]

i just break the tree in half
I don’t remember making this comment

[@williamwhite9481]

The tree would split if you tried that

[@sauljapuntich]

and my Kelly double bit steel axe cuts that tree in one swipe

[@goatmom8715]

Weird flex but ol

[@tijlaerts]

gratz on owning new technologies other people made for you

[@frankgon4]

Well no surprises here

[@LeonardBillsMcGoatPryor]

But the stone axe looks cooler though. :T

[@darkyzuz8012]

1:37 jajajaja

[@whatsup5914]

mix copper with tin to make it stronger

[@reddunk1918]

Cavemen can't make alloys lol

[@seancoyote]

The reason why Bronze didn't happen earlier was that the two metals were rarely found together. Trading is what brought about the Bronze age. Utzi wasn't a cave man, he was late neolithic(new stone)/copper age which was a transition period of technology. In the time of Utzi, there was farming, brewing, pottery, domesticated animals, bread and smelting ores, and they lives in huts of woven wood and buildings of stacked stones and mud. . Do not mistake this for being a cave man.

[@jabaricoleman1113]

Can you send me a copper axe I am a super fan of yours

[@anthonycoplen8851]

you need another guy stabilizing it

[@BardofCornwall]

Love it!

[@williamodonnell6772]

It is likely several thousand years old.... (BASH, BASH, BASH).
Nah great vid though!

[@sandrojones8068]

copper age?