Hawaiian Adze found Bay of Skaill, Orkney, 1867

3D Model

This stone adze was found on the Bay of Skaill, near Skara Brae, Sandwick, Orkney in 1867, but it originates from distant shores. This artefact was once thought to be a Maori Toki, but closer parallels can be found in tools from Hawaii. It is mystery how this artefact came to be on an Orcadian beach, but in the 19th century Orcadians explored the world. Moreover, the ships from Captain Cook’s third expedition made first landfall in the British Isles at Stromness in 1780 and many artefacts from the voyage were sold in Orkney.

This exquisite tool is manufactured from a fine black basalt that rings when tapped. The flaking at the butt end was executed with exceptional skill, creating an exquisite rectangular section, and the blade edge has been finely ground and polished.

Model by Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark for a Leverhulme Trust funded project ‘Working stone, making communities: technology and identity on prehistoric Orkney’.

L: 320mm, W at blade 87mm, W at butt, 62mm.

Stromness Museum A 260.