Cameo corner: Flint axes

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For this programme, Bronze-Age specialist Francis Pryor, from Flag Fen (www.flagfen.com), oversaw the reconstruction and use of flint tools.

What was the aim of the cameo?
To see which of two types of flint axes was the most effective – a flaked Mesolithic 'tranchet' axe (say 6000 BC) and a polished Neolithic axe (say 4000 BC). We came to the conclusion that although it took much longer to manufacture, the Neolithic axe was far more effective than the tranchet axe.

What value is there in doing reconstructive experimental archaeology?
There's a lot of value, provided you keep your objectives reasonable. So our test of two axes was only a general one: we were not attempting to quantify precisely how much better one axe was than the other.

Experiments must also take into account the 'mindset' or general approach of people in the past. In other words it is pointless to attempt to work out precisely how many people it would have taken to erect a Stonehenge stone if we have no idea of the type of people who were doing the work, nor what was their motivation. For all we know those huge stones could have been so sacred that they could only have been touched by ladies who were over 80 years old! We just don't know.

What materials were used?
We tried to use original materials: flint and native hardwood for the handles.

What was the hardest part of the task?
I found the axe haft wanted to twist in my grip. That and the fact that Phil was always making silly comments…

Did you learn anything by doing the reconstruction?
Yes, I think we were both surprised by the effectiveness of the polished axe. All the effort it took Phil to polish it (more than a day's work) was worth it.

If you did it again would you have done it differently?
Yes, I would have liked to work for rather longer, using both axes and in different types of tasks.

Are there any other reconstructions you would like to try?
I'd like to do some more work on using a trained sheepdog to herd primitive sheep. I know it can be done, but I'd like to test it again and with more sheep.

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