Ave!

Bronze Age, Trade Ax, Urnfield Culture c. 1000-800 BC

Copper alloy; 50mm13.4gm

Con/ Presented as arrived and untouched; purposely broken in antiquity.

Seller's Note/ Although such artifacts were ax-shaped, they were not necessarily meant to be used as an ax. Most likely they were traded for their weight in bronze, to be later used by the recipients to create other items for their local needs.

Ground found in an ancient Celtic settlement near the Danube River. From a small trove of purposely broken axes and sword hilts, such hoards were often deposited near rivers and wet places like swamps or even caves. As these spots were often quite inaccessible, they most probably represent gifts to the gods or for other less understood ritual reasons.

A very rare and gnarly artifact...and certainly under-priced.