Saltley handaxe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saltley handaxe |
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The Saltley handaxe as illustrated by John Evans in 1897
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| Material | Quartzite |
| Long | 100 mm |
| Created | c. 500,000 BC |
| Period/culture | Paleolithic |
| Discovered | 1890 River Rea, Birmingham, England |
| Present location | Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery |
The Saltley handaxe is a very old stone tool. It is a type of hand axe made from a strong rock called quartzite. This special axe was found in 1890 near the River Rea in Saltley, a part of Birmingham, England.
Scientists believe the handaxe is about 500,000 years old. It was the first human-made object from the Paleolithic era (also known as the Old Stone Age) found in the English Midlands. Before this discovery, people thought that no humans lived in this area until much later, after the last ice age ended.
Contents
What is the Saltley Handaxe?
The Saltley handaxe is about 100 millimeters (4 inches) long. It was shaped from a brown piece of quartzite. This type of rock is very hard and good for making tools.
Who Used This Tool?
This handaxe was likely used by an early human species called Homo heidelbergensis. These ancient people lived a very long time ago. They used tools like this for many tasks. They might have used it for cutting, scraping, or even digging.
Where Was It Found?
The axe was found in the gravels of the River Rea valley. Its edges are rounded, and the type of rock it's made from is not found nearby. This suggests the axe was not found exactly where it was first used. It was probably moved to the discovery site by glacial meltwater. This means melting ice from glaciers carried it along the river.
Why Is This Handaxe Important?
The discovery of the Saltley handaxe was very important for understanding early human history in England. It showed that ancient humans lived in the English Midlands much earlier than thought.
The archaeologist John Evans wrote about the axe in his 1897 book, Ancient Stone Implements of Britain. He wondered if other ancient tools were still waiting to be found in the area. His work helped change how people viewed the history of early humans in Britain.
Where Can You See It?
Today, the Saltley handaxe is kept safe at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. You can visit the museum to see this amazing piece of ancient history.
See also
- Gray's Inn Lane Hand Axe in London
