Help to identify an axe with engraving.

CutlassCollector · 22nd March 2019, 02:54 PM

This axe was found in a riverbank near Fort Myers in Florida. It has an engraving including the letter R and appears to be made of bronze. The owner thought it may have connections to Native American culture but I think that seems unlikely.

Any thoughts or suggestions around its use, origin or the engraving would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, CC

mross · 22nd March 2019, 04:08 PM

I do not think it is Native American. Most if not all of their metal tools where trade items and where not bronze. Just does not look like anything attributed to them.

Battara · 22nd March 2019, 07:50 PM

Not Native American, but sort of looks India or even Persian-ish to me.

CutlassCollector · 23rd March 2019, 12:53 PM

Thanks mross and Battara, these were my thoughts also.
Presumably Native Americans jumped straight from stone and bone to iron and steel over a short time period.

Does anyone else see a connection to India/Persia in the style of the marking? Or symbols of fertility?

Why make an axe out of bronze with steel readily available for many centuries?

Regards CC

David R · 26th March 2019, 01:12 AM

I have seen trade tomahawks in brass, sometimes with an inset edge of steel.... So I would have a look at what the fur trade was bringing in to the US.

CutlassCollector · 26th March 2019, 10:55 PM

Hi David,

Thanks for that. A quick search brings up some examples so it keeps the 'local' option alive. It also flagged up bronze being used in Central America and Mexico areas but probably too far back for this axe.

Regards,
CC

22nd March 2019, 02:54 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	Help to identify an axe with engraving. This axe was found in a riverbank near Fort Myers in Florida. It has an engraving including the letter R and appears to be made of bronze. The owner thought it may have connections to Native American culture but I think that seems unlikely. Any thoughts or suggestions around its use, origin or the engraving would be greatly appreciated. Regards, CC Attached Images

22nd March 2019, 04:08 PM	#2
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	I do not think it is Native American. Most if not all of their metal tools where trade items and where not bronze. Just does not look like anything attributed to them.

22nd March 2019, 07:50 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,225	Not Native American, but sort of looks India or even Persian-ish to me.

23rd March 2019, 12:53 PM	#4
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	Thanks mross and Battara, these were my thoughts also. Presumably Native Americans jumped straight from stone and bone to iron and steel over a short time period. Does anyone else see a connection to India/Persia in the style of the marking? Or symbols of fertility? Why make an axe out of bronze with steel readily available for many centuries? Regards CC

26th March 2019, 01:12 AM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	I have seen trade tomahawks in brass, sometimes with an inset edge of steel.... So I would have a look at what the fur trade was bringing in to the US.

26th March 2019, 10:55 PM	#6
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	Hi David, Thanks for that. A quick search brings up some examples so it keeps the 'local' option alive. It also flagged up bronze being used in Central America and Mexico areas but probably too far back for this axe. Regards, CC