Polished stone axehead

Polished stone axehead found in Roscam on the outskirts of Galway city.  Polished stone axeheads  were commonly used tools in the later Mesolithic and throughout the Neolithic periods in Ireland – this particular axehead is likely Neolithic dating to between 3800 BC to 2000 BC.  It  would have been mounted on a wooden haft and secured with animal sinew or leather and resin.  With its well-shaped cutting edge, it made an effective chopping tool.