New discovery of a socketed axe of the Giżycko type from Kal, Węgorzewo county

Abstract

The article presents a stray find of a bronze axe from the village of Kal (Węgorzewo County). Said artefact can be classified as belonging to the group of Baltic axes of the Giżycko type and can be associated with the bronze-working production of a local community from the Great Masurian Lakes region at the beginning of the Iron Age. As part of the study, a typological assessment of the axe was conducted, along with a series of specialist analyses, including paleobotanical and metallurgical analyses, encompassing elemental composition studies and surface analysis, as well as a traceological analysis of technological and use-wear traces of the object in prehistory. The scope and results of conservation works were also discussed. The obtained results indicate that the axe was cast in tin bronze using a two-part mould with a core. Casting defects were identified on the axe casting, which may suggest wear of the casting mould. At the bottom of the socket, strongly decayed fragments of wood were identified, which can be interpreted as remains of a wooden haft. In turn, the traceological assessment of the casting indicates that, despite the presence of sharpening traces and localised polishing on its surface, there are no unambiguous traces indicating the use of the axe in prehistory.