Copper axe -adze w/ rim lip

Description

Carpathian axe - adze.
Carpathian Basin / Transylvanian or Middle Danubian metallurgical tradition.

Large Type II (tunnel extends beyond axe body) copper alloy axe -- adze (dolabra type) with 2 perpendicular wide blades, an axe blade of 67 mm and an adze blade of 82 mm wide.

Sturdy construction with shoulders widened at the socket, with additional rim lip (collar) at the lower end of the shaft hole tunnel. Upper part of the axe blade cast with a deep recess indicating single part clay mold casting technique.

Probable Scope of Use
Given the weight (950 g) and sturdy construction: Primary: Heavy-duty woodworking and carpentry within a settled agricultural community. Secondary: A prestige weapon as a symbol of status. Such large, complex castings were symbols of status and authority. Ritual: Many such large, high-quality bronze items were never intended for daily labor but were cast specifically for ritual burial (hoarding) to demonstrate the wealth of a clan or to appease deities.

The weight of nearly 1 kg is substantial for the period, this was an industrial-strength implement of its time, likely owned by a master craftsman or a high-ranking warrior-leader.