Large copper alloy axe -- adze (dolabra) 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 collar at the lower end of the socket. Upper part of the axe blade cast with a deep recess.
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. Such 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.
Comparable Types: It shares morphological traits with the Pătulele or Veselinovo types, though the specific deep recesson the axe blade and the reinforced collar suggest a more advanced or specialized regional variant, possibly from the Wietenberg or Otomani cultures.
