Danish Mesolithic Period Bone Axe or Hammer

Ertebølle Culture, c. 5400–3950 BC, Denmark

An exceptional and exceedingly rare bone axe or hammer, recovered from Denmark’s ancient peat bogs. Crafted from the solid metacarpal bone of a red deer, this robust tool fragment features a drilled socket at one end, once fitted with a sharp flint core axe blade—transforming it into a powerful composite weapon or woodworking implement.

This remarkable artifact dates to the Ertebølle culture, a Mesolithic society that thrived in the coastal and riverine landscapes of Northern Jutland between 5400 and 3950 BC. A culture known for its expert hunters and gatherers, the Ertebølle people lived on headlands, islands, and bays, strategically positioned to exploit rich natural resources both on land and in the water.

Their most iconic legacy is the massive kitchen middens—towering shell heaps composed mainly of oyster shells, remnants of a once-abundant and staple food source gathered from Denmark's fjords and straits. The Ertebølle were adept watermen, navigating inland waterways in paddled dugout canoes, and their toolkits show a high degree of specialization and craftsmanship. While flint tools were common—axes, blades, arrowheads, chisels—the people also skillfully utilized organic materials such as antler, bone, and wood for functional tools and weapons.

This bone axe or hammer stands out for its fusion of organic and lithic materials, with the drilled end designed to mount a sharp stone blade. Such composite tools were not only functional but also reflect a sophisticated understanding of materials and engineering.

As with many Ertebølle artifacts, this piece was preserved in anaerobic, waterlogged conditions and rediscovered in the early 20th century during peat-cutting operations. The cold, low-oxygen bogs prevented decay, allowing tools like this to survive in astonishing condition for over 7,000 years.

A rare and powerful link to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Mesolithic Denmark.

Good condition. Visible drilling, cutting, and grinding marks. Age-related wear, fractures and chip. Remnants of peat bog. Lovely brownish black patina. Object is treated with a surface-protecting shellac layer. Size approx. 26,0cm x 3,7cm x 2,1cm.

Provenance: Danish private collection.

References and further reading:

Europe's First Farmers – T. Douglas Price, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Cambridge University Press, 2000 (http://assets.cambridge.org/97805216/62031/ sample/9780521662031ws.pdf)

Inland Ertebølle Culture: the importance of aquatic resources and the freshwater reservoir effect in radiocarbon dates from pottery food crusts, Bente Philippsen & John Meadows, Internet Archaeology (doi:10.11141/ia.37.9)

Prehistoric period (until 1050 AD)/ The Mesolithic period, Nationalmuseet i København (https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-mesolithic-period/)

How Bone Technology points to Cultural Lineages in Prehistory? New Insights from Danish Late-and Post-Glacial Weapons’ Heads, Éva David, Lasse Sørensen, Peter Petersen, Open Access Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2022. (https://hal.science/hal-03598512/document)