adze
- Museum number
- EA30079
- Description
-
A strong copper adze-blad:e with a flat butt and straight sides. The width is greatest at the cutting edge, from which it decreases steadily to the butt. The edge is slightly convex and has been hammered and ground from only one face of the blade. Small traces of linen adhere to the corroded surface of the tool.
- Dimensions
-
Length: 18.10 centimetres (max)
-
Weight: 0.137 kilograms
-
Thickness: 0.50 centimetres
-
Width: 2.50 centimetres (max)
- Curator's comments
- The date of acquisition suggests that this object may have come from the Early Dynastic royal tombs at Abydos.
For other examples of Early Dynastic square-topped adzes, see E. Amélineau, ‘Les Nouvelles Fouilles d’Abydos’ II (1896-7), pl.XVIII; W. M. F. Petrie, 'Royal Tombs of the Earliest Dynasties' II, pl.XLV, 77; W. M. F. Petrie, 'Tools and weapons : illustrated by the Egyptian collection in University College, London' (London, 1917), 16 and pls.XV-XVI; W. M. F. Petrie, 'Tombs of the courtiers and Oxyrhynkos' (London, 1925), pl.V, 5; Z. Y. Saad, 'The excavations at Helwan art and civilization in the first and second Egyptian dynasties' (Norman, 1969), pl.38; W. B. Emery, 'Great tombs of the First Dynasty; excavations at Sakkara' I' (Cairo, 1949), 37-41 and pl.10B; G. A. Reisner, 'The early dynastic cemeteries of Naga-ed-Dêr' I, (California, 1908), 114 and pl.40d; J. E. Quibell & F. W. Green, 'Hierakonpolis' II (London, 1989), 26 and pl.XVLIIIb; J. E. Quibell, ‘Archaic Objects’ (Cairo, 1905), nos, 14511-2 and pl.58; J. Garstang, ‘Maḥâsna and Bêt Khallâf’ (London, 1989), pls.XVI, XXIII; A. Scharff, 'Die archaeologischen Ergebnisse des vorgeschichtlichen Gräberfeldes von Abusir el-Meleq' I (Leipzeig, 1926), pl.28, (257-8).
- Location
- On display (G64/dc12)
- Condition
- incomplete - handle lost
- Acquisition date
- 1898
- Department
- Egypt and Sudan
- BM/Big number
- EA30079
- Registration number
- 1898,0315.205
