An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s2.5

v1.c11.s2.5

Copper axes, sometimes with prominent shoulders, have been reported from sites like BAHADARBAD, BISAULI, RAJPUR PARSU, SARTHAULI, BIJNOR, Mainpuri, BITHUR and PONDI, all as parts of Copper Hoards [4.11]. They are simple, flat and parallel-sided with unsplayed, straight or semicircular edges, having a pronounced shoulder; some specimens have tapering sides towards the butt and splayed edges. Double-axes, produced out of elliptical copper sheets by the cutting off of large arcs from both the longer sides of the ellipse, also form part of the Copper Hoard equipment as is evidenced from the finds of a few such axes at PARIHATI, Dt Midnapur, where they are found along with such typical Copper Hoard implements as bar celts. Copper double-axes also occur in the Chalcolithic levels of HALLUR. This requires a revision of the theory that such axes from Bhagrapir, Dt Mayurbhanj, were products of the historical period for the inscribing of land grants (Gordon, 1958, p. 145).