A palstave is a type of early bronzeaxe. It was common in the middle Bronze Age in northern, western and south-western Europe. In the technical sense, although precise definitions differ, an axe is generally deemed to be a palstave if it is hafted by means of a forked wooden handle kept in place with high, cast flanges and stop bar. The axe should be much thicker on the blade side of the stop bar than the hafting side (Schmidt and Burgess 1981, p. 115). In these respects, it is very close, but distinct from, earlier 'flanged axes'. Palstaves were cast in bivalve moulds made of clay, stone or bronze.
A palstave with an additional loop.A middle Bronze Age palstave
The archaeologistJohn Evans (1881, p. 72) popularized the term 'palstave' in English following Danish archaeologists who borrowed the term from Icelandic: paalstab. Confusingly, a paalstab is not an axe, but a digging tool. However, the term had become so common with Scandinavian and German archaeologists that Evans thought it best to follow suit.
Evans, J. 1881. The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Longmans and Co. available on gutenberg.org
Schmidt, P.K. and Burgess, C.B. 1981. "The Axes of Scotland and Northern England" in Prähistorische Bronzefunde 9/7
January 01, 1970
palstave, palstave, type, early, bronze, common, middle, bronze, northern, western, south, western, europe, technical, sense, although, precise, definitions, differ, generally, deemed, palstave, hafted, means, forked, wooden, handle, kept, place, with, high, c. A palstave is a type of early bronze axe It was common in the middle Bronze Age in northern western and south western Europe In the technical sense although precise definitions differ an axe is generally deemed to be a palstave if it is hafted by means of a forked wooden handle kept in place with high cast flanges and stop bar The axe should be much thicker on the blade side of the stop bar than the hafting side Schmidt and Burgess 1981 p 115 In these respects it is very close but distinct from earlier flanged axes Palstaves were cast in bivalve moulds made of clay stone or bronze A palstave with an additional loop A middle Bronze Age palstave The archaeologist John Evans 1881 p 72 popularized the term palstave in English following Danish archaeologists who borrowed the term from Icelandic paalstab Confusingly a paalstab is not an axe but a digging tool However the term had become so common with Scandinavian and German archaeologists that Evans thought it best to follow suit See also editCelt tool References editEvans J 1881 The Ancient Bronze Implements Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland London Longmans and Co available on gutenberg org Schmidt P K and Burgess C B 1981 The Axes of Scotland and Northern England in Prahistorische Bronzefunde 9 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Palstave amp oldid 1167114581, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
