Native American ax with handle found

[dragon725]

Today I was in the woods about 100 yards from my house in East Tennessee looking around for a sassafras tree to dig up so I could make some tea for my wife. Then a stone laying on the ground caught my eye I noticed it looked like a ax head. Then after a second glance I could see the leather straps holding the ax and the handle together. Then as careful as I could I lifted the ax off the ground then I noticed that termites had almost eaten the entire ax handle.

 

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[dragon725]

Handle pics

 

[G.I.B.]

That is an incredible find.

What part of the country are you in?

 

[godisnum1]

That is absolutely *amazing* to even see!! I would've never thought wood & leather would hold up to the elements like that...
Congrats!!!

Bran <><

 

[dragon725]

That is an incredible find.

What part of the country are you in?

I found it on the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennessee

 

[Fla-Gal]

This is totally amazing - Museum piece??...Banner I hope so...

 

[pickaway]

hmmm that is a interesting find...

 

[Bent-Twig]

Wow ,

That is a super cool find!!

I would ask around and try to find a way to protect what is left of that handle and strap.

Twig.

 

[jeff a]

nice axe, a lost twice axe,some one else found it in modern times put a handle on it and lost it

 

[shopdog]

totaly awsome find banner banner banner for sure

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I agree with Jeff. Unless found in a dry cave there is no way a wooden handle and leather straps would survive for three to four thousand years, which is the approximate age of that Axe. Someone has found it, put the handle on it, and then it was lost again. Maybe some kids were playing with it and lost it. The fact that it was being eaten by termites should tell you that it couldn't have been out there very long or they would eaten it completely away.

Very nice Axe though, but I highly doubt that is the original handle.

 

[searcher]

After seeing the larger pics I also agree with Jeff.

Does not look like sinew to me.
Looks like more modern leather lacing of some sort.

A very nice find no matter what though.

I have never seen as good a specimen as that!
Keep looking!

Searcher
H.H.

 

[Americus]

Very nice artifact and very interesting story. Congratulations!

 

[Atlantis0077]

Afternoon,

Yep, a re-do there....I know somebody is crying in their soup over losing that!! Wood and leather wont stand up to the elements for long at all....I guess you could find something like that if it were in a dry cave somewhere protected, but not out in the open in TN weather. Excellent find though, I would have done a happy dance!!!

Atlantis

 

[johnreb1980]

Nice find none the less.

 

[SoIll]

I agree with the rawhide and wood being modern. On a side note: You're supposed to dig sassafrass in the winter when the sap is in the roots.
Nice axe though.

 

[Atlantis0077]

LOL,

Just as well....Sassafrass causes cancer. Much more of "folk" than fact there. Stick to root beer...its safer.
Being a Louisiana native, it does help to put a little zing in gumbo......file' that is.

Atlantis

 

[Tnmountains]

I have hunted many shelters along the plateau. Never found anything close to being attached to anything. It is a very cool find nonetheless. My dad made me a tomahawk when I was a kid I lost it somewhere kinda like in Plehbahs story but it was not near as well done as that one you have with an original stone head.
I can not help but wonder what you were thinking when you saw it.
Hey the sasafrass can be made from the root anytime of the year and its easy to locate when it has foilage like right now. I smash the root with a hammer on a flat surface and then slowly boil.Tell your wife to add a liitle cream and sugar to it .It turns a pretty shade of pink. I like it hot or iced.
Cool find fun read.
TnMountains

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

That is a very nice find. Your heart had to be thumpin when you first saw that. I'm on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau in Morgan County, Where are you?

DANGLANGLEY

 

[SoIll]

Here's something cool http://flintknapper.com/How to make a stone axe.htm