Museum complex

Stone axe - spike hammer

Vologda Oblast, Nyuksensky district, village Omut
Presumably IV millennium BC
Epoch - neolithic
Kargopol’ Culture
Stone
33,5 х 27 cm
From: accidental finding (1904)
Showcase 6

A double-edged spike hammer with monolithic handle and two button-shaped ledges in the middle of the double-edged blade was found accidently on the tillable land in the Olonets Governorate in the beginning of the XX century and donated to the museum. The edges of figured ledges and blades are decorated with short transversal notches. To the surface of both ledges cross shaped engravings were placed. At the end of a short handle an oval aperture for fixing a thong of leather or of plant fiber. Findings of similar armament supplies are known in small numbers in Karelia and Finland, but all of them do not have a handle, only an aperture in the middle for putting on a wooden handle.
The accidental character of findings seems to be not accidental: supposedly, spike hammers were put in the ground beyond sites. A few number of findings, quality and manufacturing complexity of such armament supplies allow to suppose their especially ritual purpose of use. Probably those were prestigious, men’s or even headman’s ritual items.
Supposedly they were used for striking during rituals, animal sacrifice and ritual kill of people.
Exhibits' purpose of use – prestigious item, ritual weapon.

1