Life on the cutting edge : interpreting patterns of wear on Scottish Early Bronze Age axes
Traditional approaches to Bronze Age metalwork have very often been framed within a series of dichotomous relationships often concerning either an objects production or ultimate deposition. In contrast, this thesis utilises a 'biographical approach' to material culture to illuminate what happened to objects during their often varied lifetimes, and importantly how this may have related to their deposition. A physical re-examination of wear, damage and states of fragmentation exhibited by a number of Early Bronze Age axes from Scotland (c. 2,400 to c. 1,700 cal B.C) is undertaken against a concurrent a program of experimental work. It is suggested that the physical appearance and condition of these objects were held to be indicative of both the object and its ownerâs biography. It is shown that axes deposited together in hoards show recurring patterns of use wear and damage relating to both the longevity and intensity of use seen during their individual lifetimes. Moreover, it is argued that decoration may have been carried out over extended periods of time rather than in one event, or even after an object was no longer useable.
Moyler, Shaun
CC Archaeology
Life on the cutting edge : interpreting patterns of wear on Scottish Early Bronze Age axes. Traditional approaches to Bronze Age metalwork have very often been framed within a series of dichotomous relationships often concerning either an objects production or ultimate deposition. In contrast, this thesis utilises a 'biographical approach' to material culture to illuminate what happened to objects during their often varied lifetimes, and importantly how this may have related to their deposition. A physical re-examination of wear, damage and states of fragmentation exhibited by a number of Early Bronze Age axes from Scotland (c. 2,400 to c. 1,700 cal B.C) is undertaken against a concurrent a program of experimental work. It is suggested that the physical appearance and condition of these objects were held to be indicative of both the object and its ownerâs biography. It is shown that axes deposited together in hoards show recurring patterns of use wear and damage relating to both the longevity and intensity of use seen during their individual lifetimes. Moreover, it is argued that decoration may have been carried out over extended periods of time rather than in one event, or even after an object was no longer useable.
life cut edge interpreting pattern wear scottish early_bronze_age traditional_approach bronze_age_metalwork often frame_within series dichotomous relationship often concern either object production ultimate deposition contrast utilise biographical material_culture illuminate happen object often vary lifetime importantly may_relate deposition physical re_examination wear damage state fragmentation exhibit number early_bronze_age scotland cal undertaken concurrent program experimental_work suggest physical_appearance condition object hold indicative object owner biography show deposit together hoard show recur pattern use_wear damage relate longevity intensity use see individual lifetime moreover_argue decoration may carry extended period_time rather event even object longer