Neolithic Stone Axehead, Mid Howe Broch, Orkney

3D Model

This Neolithic stone axehead was found at Mid Howe broch, Rousay, Orkney and donated to NMS by Walter G. Grant in 1937. Little is known about the discovery of this artefact, but surface iron scrapes indicate that it was probably recovered from plough soil.

Walter Grant lived on Rousay and excavated many archaeological sites, including Mid Howe Broch and the adjacent Neolithic stalled cairn. Both sites can be visited. This axe is manufactured from a fine volcanic rock. The overall form, and particularly the pointed butt end, is unusual for Orcadian axeheads but comparisons can drawn with examples from Ireland.

Dimensions: L:200mm, W:67mm, T:53mm.

Accession No: X.AF 748

This model was produced by Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark for a Leverhulme Trust funded project ‘Working stone, making communities: technology and identity on prehistoric Orkney’ Directed by Prof Mark Edmonds, University of York.