?Two “giant axes” around 300,000 years old found in the south of England: what were they used for
![?Two “giant axes” around 300,000 years old found in the south of England: what were they used for 12191](https://i.servimg.com/u/f57/20/22/84/12/12191.png)
Here is exposed and measured the larger of the two "giant axes". (Image credit: South-East Archeology/UCL)
Archaeologists from University College London, commonly abbreviated 'UCL', have discovered 800 stone artefacts said to be over 300,000 years old, buried in sediment believed to date back to the 'Ice Age'. Among them are two "giant axes", one of which joins the ranking of the largest ever found in Britain.
![?Two “giant axes” around 300,000 years old found in the south of England: what were they used for 1-1751](https://i.servimg.com/u/f57/20/22/84/12/1-1751.png)
The paper published in the journal Internet Archeology reports "two hand axes" (alongside several smaller artifacts) unearthed during preventive excavations in the county of Kent, south-east England.
Impressive 'axes' buried in sediment around 300,000 years old
![?Two “giant axes” around 300,000 years old found in the south of England: what were they used for 1-1752](https://i.servimg.com/u/f57/20/22/84/12/1-1752.png)
In the Vale of Medway, in Kent, the layers of sediments are presented as witnesses of the previous ice age, in the press release of the UCL dated July 6, 2023. It is partly for this reason that in the spring of 2021, an archaeological evaluation program was undertaken upstream of the construction of the new school "Maritime Academy" which today gives its name to the archaeological site where the two "colossi" were exposed . Indeed, in the world of artifacts, tools are called "giants" when they exceed 22 centimeters in length. The two that are currently the pride of UCL exceed them, with the former reaching 29.5cm.
The flint objects, because of their sizes, and their symmetrical tapered points correspond to the category of "ficrons", known in the region. According to Letty Ingrey, chief geo-archaeologist at UCL's Institute of Archaeology, "giant axes like this are commonly found in the Thames and Medway areas and date back over 300,000 years ". The preliminary stages of the study had attested to the presence of fluvial deposits from the Pleistocene (period which begins with the end of the Pliocene 2.58 million years ago and ends 11,700 years ago) on at least part of the site.
Questions about their use
Given their size, archaeologists wonder about the use that was made of them. The lower part of the tool, the butt, is relatively rounded, on the other hand, the upper point has been elaborately and carefully worked. The tip even comprising nearly half the length of the tool. Was she meant to cut? To scratch ? The UCL Archeology South-East researchers speculate that 'axes' were commonly used to butcher animals. Ingrey tells Business Insider that these "axes" are still " so large that it's hard to imagine how they could have been easily held and used.". She does not exclude the possibility that they also fulfilled a more symbolic function.
The subject remains to be decided!
Sources :
« On the Discovery of a Late Acheulean ‘Giant’ Handaxe from the Maritime Academy, Frindsbury, Kent« , Letty Ingrey, Sarah M. Duffy, Martin Bates, Andrew Shaw and Matt Pope