handaxe
Prehistoric cutting tool
A handaxe is a prehistoric stone tool shaped by chipping flakes from both sides to create a pointed or oval implement with cutting edges.
Associated primarily with early humans over a million years ago, handaxes were versatile tools used for butchering, digging, and cutting.
The term is usually written as one word or hyphenated: hand-axe.
Spark-producing sedimentary rock
- chertFine-grained siliceous stone
- obsidianGlassy igneous rock
- quartziteMetamorphic silica-rich stone
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
knapping · flintknapping · lithic · core · flake · cortex · hammerstone · reduction
Earliest archaeological era
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
dig · site · anthropology · archaeologist · Homo erectus · Neanderthal · typology · assemblage
Processing animals into cuts
- scrapingRubbing away material
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
- diggingRemoving earth below
- choppingCutting into pieces
woodworking · hunting · carcass · skinning · multipurpose · throwing · pounding · tool use
Oval with tapering
- teardropSingle unit of crying
- pointedTapering to a tip
- symmetricalEven on all sides
- pear-shapedBulging below, narrow above
almond · lanceolate · cleaver · blade · cutting edge · tip · butt · worked
Propelling by arm motion
- huntingPursuing wild game
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
- projectileLaunched airborne object
striking · blunt force · spear · warfare · aggression
flint
Spark-producing sedimentary rock
basalt · knapping · flintknapping · lithic · core · flake · cortex · hammerstone · reduction · percussion
Paleolithic
Earliest archaeological era
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- excavationAct of unearthing
stratigraphy · dig · site · anthropology · archaeologist · Homo erectus · Neanderthal · typology · assemblage · Lower Paleolithic
butchering
Processing animals into cuts
chopping · woodworking · hunting · carcass · skinning · multipurpose · throwing · pounding · tool use
ovate
Oval with tapering
- teardropSingle unit of crying
- pointedTapering to a tip
- symmetricalEven on all sides
pear-shaped · almond · lanceolate · cleaver · blade · cutting edge · tip · butt · worked · refined
throwing
Propelling by arm motion
- huntingPursuing wild game
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
projectile · striking · blunt force · spear · warfare · aggression
- prehistorystone tools, Neolithic, Stone Age, caveman, cavemen
- Stone Agecave painting, paleolithic, stone tools, choppers, scrapers
- Stone Age toolsstone knife, chopper, arrowhead, arrowheads, spear point
- Paleolithicstone tools, flint, Neanderthal, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon
handaxespear
Pole with sharp point
halberd · adze · poleaxe · battle axe · tomahawk
handaxebronze axe
Alloy-headed cutting tool
steel blade · blade · bow and arrow · sword · knife