DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1036#0060
52
THE STONE IMPLEMENTS OF KAIIUN.
work, without cement. See figs, in Kahun PL. XVI.
and Illahun VII. 4. An example of this form of axe
blade and its handle is depicted amongst the objects
required in a future life, in the interior of a coffin of
Mentu-hetep in the British Museum, No. 6655 ; its
date is previous to the Xllth dynasty. The axe
blades are coloured pale red, but saws and halbert-
shaped axes, all evidently of metal, are coloured
lemon yellow ; and Mr. Petrie tells me that the axe
in the tomb sculptures of Ra hotep [early IVth
dynasty] has also a circular curve and is coloured a
bluish-grey, different from the greenish-blue used to
express copper. Whether these axes are representa-
tions of stone, copper, or bronze is of course uncertain,
as colour is rarely to be relied on for the definite
expression of a kind of material, though it may be
for mere differences between materials; but the
circular outline of the blades agrees with no form of
copper or bronze implement known to have been
found in Egypt hitherto; while the shape is in ac-
cordance with the forms of the flint and hornstone
axes of Kahun. If these representations and others
like them are in any way related to forms of bronze
they are of such shapes as are least removed from
those of chipped or polished stone, and must repre-
sent in the former case a transition type or in the
latter an actual survival of an archaic outline.
As to the special use of the hornstone axe, Illahun,
PL. VII. 3, with very blunt edges, it is difficult to
assign a use other than that of squaring blocks of
stone, for which however the use of a coarse adze
would be more suitable as admitting of more accurate
aim. ■
An axe blade of the same shape, but much smaller
was found; as it was fashioned out of white chalky
limestone, it could not have been used for working
and must have been a model or toy.
86. The blades of adzes are comparatively rare.
When new the cutting edge is carefully trimmed and
well rounded. After use the retrimming was in a
straight line, see plates Kahun XVI. right and left
corners. In both these figures the tang becomes
narrow, each however had a little knot at the apex in
close resemblance to similarly shaped copper blades
also found at Kahun of contemporary age. These
knobs were perhaps found necessary in smooth bronze
tools to prevent the falling out of the blade when
the thongs for attachment had become loose by use.
There is another form having a straight edge and
broad tang, Illahun VII. 1. The handle suitable for
these is figured in Kahun Pl. IX. 15. It was a new
handle and applicable either to a bronze or stone
blade. The shape of the instrument is well known
from coloured figures and examples extending from
the earliest to Roman times. But it is noticeable
that the implement, which is the simplest next to the
axe, is very far removed from the neolithic tool of
Europe, for no actual examples or hieroglyphs of Nun
or Sotep, or pictures, have been found in which the
blade is inserted in a wooden socket.
Among the objects of the Xllth dynasty was
something intended for an adze blade, six inches
long, the clumsiness of whose workmanship, and the
failure to produce on it a serviceable edge, suggests
the work of a beginner rather than a preparatory
blocking out by a skilled workman. A portion of an
adze blade is shown in Illahun Pl.VII. 9, whose form
and workmanship however is not like that of any
certainly known to be of the Xllth dynasty. As it
was found in a burial with some scarabs of the begin-
ning of the XVIIIth dynasty it is probably of that
age.
87. The marked types of knife-like blades are five
in number. That figured in Kahun, XVI. [top line
last but one on right], is a common variety, the chip-
ping is always rough, it has no good cutting edge
and the convex edge is rudely bevelled on one side
only. The blade is blunted at the tip. The figure.
next to the last is another type, and its workmanship
is about equal to the former; both these have their
free ends downwards. A type not far removed from
the last as to shape and style is represented next to
the adze blade on the left of the same plate, and a
fine example in Illahun Pl. VII. 11. By far the
most characteristic knife blade however is that re-
presented in Kahun Pl. XVI. to the left of the cap of
the column and in Illahun Pl. VII. 7 and 8. All
these examples, and they are numerous, either whole
or in portions, are very well chipped in broad flaking,
having no attempt at regularity of pattern ; but the
smoothness of surface and suitability for purposes of
cutting are as perfect as in those, with the narrowest
ripple flaking so pleasing to the eye, seen on some
implements of other periods. In Illahun Pl. VII. the
fine knives have transverse sections appended. These
knives have one edge either perfectly straight or very
slightly and gracefully concave. The straight edge
was apparently finished off on a stone to get the line
even. No signs of hard usage ever occur on this
edge in perfect specimens, but on the other edge
there is much evidence of rather rough employment,
and though generally the splintering is from one side
THE STONE IMPLEMENTS OF KAIIUN.
work, without cement. See figs, in Kahun PL. XVI.
and Illahun VII. 4. An example of this form of axe
blade and its handle is depicted amongst the objects
required in a future life, in the interior of a coffin of
Mentu-hetep in the British Museum, No. 6655 ; its
date is previous to the Xllth dynasty. The axe
blades are coloured pale red, but saws and halbert-
shaped axes, all evidently of metal, are coloured
lemon yellow ; and Mr. Petrie tells me that the axe
in the tomb sculptures of Ra hotep [early IVth
dynasty] has also a circular curve and is coloured a
bluish-grey, different from the greenish-blue used to
express copper. Whether these axes are representa-
tions of stone, copper, or bronze is of course uncertain,
as colour is rarely to be relied on for the definite
expression of a kind of material, though it may be
for mere differences between materials; but the
circular outline of the blades agrees with no form of
copper or bronze implement known to have been
found in Egypt hitherto; while the shape is in ac-
cordance with the forms of the flint and hornstone
axes of Kahun. If these representations and others
like them are in any way related to forms of bronze
they are of such shapes as are least removed from
those of chipped or polished stone, and must repre-
sent in the former case a transition type or in the
latter an actual survival of an archaic outline.
As to the special use of the hornstone axe, Illahun,
PL. VII. 3, with very blunt edges, it is difficult to
assign a use other than that of squaring blocks of
stone, for which however the use of a coarse adze
would be more suitable as admitting of more accurate
aim. ■
An axe blade of the same shape, but much smaller
was found; as it was fashioned out of white chalky
limestone, it could not have been used for working
and must have been a model or toy.
86. The blades of adzes are comparatively rare.
When new the cutting edge is carefully trimmed and
well rounded. After use the retrimming was in a
straight line, see plates Kahun XVI. right and left
corners. In both these figures the tang becomes
narrow, each however had a little knot at the apex in
close resemblance to similarly shaped copper blades
also found at Kahun of contemporary age. These
knobs were perhaps found necessary in smooth bronze
tools to prevent the falling out of the blade when
the thongs for attachment had become loose by use.
There is another form having a straight edge and
broad tang, Illahun VII. 1. The handle suitable for
these is figured in Kahun Pl. IX. 15. It was a new
handle and applicable either to a bronze or stone
blade. The shape of the instrument is well known
from coloured figures and examples extending from
the earliest to Roman times. But it is noticeable
that the implement, which is the simplest next to the
axe, is very far removed from the neolithic tool of
Europe, for no actual examples or hieroglyphs of Nun
or Sotep, or pictures, have been found in which the
blade is inserted in a wooden socket.
Among the objects of the Xllth dynasty was
something intended for an adze blade, six inches
long, the clumsiness of whose workmanship, and the
failure to produce on it a serviceable edge, suggests
the work of a beginner rather than a preparatory
blocking out by a skilled workman. A portion of an
adze blade is shown in Illahun Pl.VII. 9, whose form
and workmanship however is not like that of any
certainly known to be of the Xllth dynasty. As it
was found in a burial with some scarabs of the begin-
ning of the XVIIIth dynasty it is probably of that
age.
87. The marked types of knife-like blades are five
in number. That figured in Kahun, XVI. [top line
last but one on right], is a common variety, the chip-
ping is always rough, it has no good cutting edge
and the convex edge is rudely bevelled on one side
only. The blade is blunted at the tip. The figure.
next to the last is another type, and its workmanship
is about equal to the former; both these have their
free ends downwards. A type not far removed from
the last as to shape and style is represented next to
the adze blade on the left of the same plate, and a
fine example in Illahun Pl. VII. 11. By far the
most characteristic knife blade however is that re-
presented in Kahun Pl. XVI. to the left of the cap of
the column and in Illahun Pl. VII. 7 and 8. All
these examples, and they are numerous, either whole
or in portions, are very well chipped in broad flaking,
having no attempt at regularity of pattern ; but the
smoothness of surface and suitability for purposes of
cutting are as perfect as in those, with the narrowest
ripple flaking so pleasing to the eye, seen on some
implements of other periods. In Illahun Pl. VII. the
fine knives have transverse sections appended. These
knives have one edge either perfectly straight or very
slightly and gracefully concave. The straight edge
was apparently finished off on a stone to get the line
even. No signs of hard usage ever occur on this
edge in perfect specimens, but on the other edge
there is much evidence of rather rough employment,
and though generally the splintering is from one side