Neolithic Stone battle axe - 14.2 cm

Neolithic Perforated Stone Battle Axe

Culture / Period: Neolithic
Date / Period: c. 2500–1900 B.C.
Material: Hardstone (possibly diabase/dolerite)
Dimensions: 142 mm (shaft hole diameter: 25 mm)
Condition: Good condition

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 862

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the battle axe from H.T. in Emmen.

The previous owner, H.T. from Emmen (The Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in The Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This perforated stone battle axe dates to the Late Neolithic, approximately 2500–1900 B.C., a period characterised by the emergence of increasingly specialised stone tools and prestige weapons across northwestern Europe. Battle axes of this type are commonly associated with Late Neolithic cultures, including the Single Grave and Corded Ware traditions, where they served both practical and symbolic functions.

Neolithic perforated battle axes were typically manufactured from tough hardstones such as diabase (dolerite), amphibolite, or other durable igneous and metamorphic rocks, selected for their exceptional strength and resistance to impact. The carefully drilled shaft hole, measuring approximately 25 mm in diameter, was produced through a laborious grinding process using abrasive sand and water, requiring considerable time and technical expertise.

Although capable of practical use, finely made perforated battle axes are widely regarded as symbols of status, authority, and personal identity. They were likely carried by prominent individuals and may also have played ceremonial or ritual roles. Their distinctive form reflects an advanced level of craftsmanship and demonstrates the technological achievements of Late Neolithic stone-working traditions.

Examples of this type have been recovered throughout the Netherlands, northern Germany, Denmark, and southern Scandinavia, illustrating the close cultural connections and exchange networks that linked prehistoric communities across northwestern Europe. They represent an important stage in the transition from the Stone Age to the emerging Bronze Age, when polished stone weapons continued to hold great social significance despite the gradual introduction of metal.

This example provides a direct and tangible connection to the people of the Late Neolithic, reflecting both the technical skill of prehistoric craftsmen and the social importance of prestige weapons within Europe's earliest farming societies.