On some outer characteristics of axes of the 14th-16th century in the territory of Lithuania

Abstract

The paper sets out to review the peculiar characteristics of the structural parts of the 14thñ16th century axes ñ their butt, head, blade, and shaft-hole. Hence, it discusses the aspects, which are not covered by the research of Eugenijus Svetikas (Svetikas 2011, 48ñ84; Svetikas 2014, 33, 35ñ36), but it nevertheless follows the division of axes into two types proposed by him. The review of the major parameters of axes (height, weight, width of an axe blade) pinpointed obvious differences between the two types (Malonaitis 2013, 3ñ17). A detailed review of outer characteristics also reveals evident differences associated with a new trend in axe production. As this topic was already covered in the press (Malonaitis 2014, 5ñ23), the present paper provides slightly shortened and clarified data on axe butts and heads as well as a previously unpublished material on blades. The study on axes was in part based on the methodology, which was applied in the case of narrow-bladed axes (Malonaitis 2008, 16ñ18). The analysis of 275 axes is produced by using data of 16 museums of Lithuania.