The first jadeite axeheads appeared around 5,300-5,500 BC, sourced almost exclusively from Monte Viso and Montebua in the Italian Alps. These stunning green stone artifacts then traveled astonishing distances—appearing as far as Britain, Scandinavia, Atlantic coast, the Balkans, and Black Sea. Production continued until roughly 3,500 BC, with the Beug type being the earliest form, either axe heads or adze heads.
Jadeite axeheads first appear in mid-6th millennium BCE, travel across Europe
Key facts
- Jadeite axeheads first appeared around the middle of the 6th millennium BCE (5,300-5,500 BC)
- The beautiful green stone was sourced almost exclusively from high in the Italian Alps, primarily from Monte Viso and Montebua (Montebua)
- They traveled astonishing distances, turning up in Britain, Scandinavia, Atlantic coast, Balkans, and as far as the Black Sea coast
- Production continued until about 3,500 BC
- The first type was the Beug type, which were long and could function as either axe heads or adze heads
- A cutoff point of 13.5 cm arbitrarily distinguished large ceremonial axeheads from everyday work-a-day ones
Sources
Jadeitite Axehead | National Museum of Irelandmuseum.ie
The jadeitite was found in the Italian Alps, at heights of over 2000m, and could only be reached during the warmer months. Large boulders were split and ...
Jade, Large Alpine axeheads of the European Neolithicimages.cnrs.fr
From 5300 BC, the first Neolithic farmers to colonise the area exploited this rock in the Italian Alps, producing long polished axeheads and ...
Jadeite Axehead - The Salisbury Museumsalisburymuseum.org.uk
Jade axes were already old when they reached Britain having been made from rock quarried in the Italian Alps. The group of tough green minerals used to describe ...
Jadeite Axe - Wiltshire Museumwiltshiremuseum.org.uk
The axe was brought to Britain about 6,000 years ago by people from one of the earliest farming communities. Jadeite is harder than steel, and the axe took over ...
A History of the World - About: Transcripts - Episode 14 - Jade axebbc.co.uk
Archaeologists Pierre and Anne-Marie Pétrequin spent 12 hard years surveying and exploring the mountain ranges of the Italian Alps and the northern Apennines.
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