Stone Axe Changes Over Time
Early stone axes had grooves chiseled or pecked into them. The grooves were used to help attach the axe to the wooden handle, as shown below.
Early stone axes had grooves all the way around them. These are often called "full grooved axes." Below is a photo of a full-grooved axe.
Later axes only had grooves on three of the four sides. These are often called "3/4-grooved axes." Below is a photo of a 3/4-grooved axe.
Eventually people adopted a new type of axe called a "celt." The celt didn't have any grooves. The skinnier end (left end of celt shown below) was fitted into a hole in a wooden handle. Each chop of the celt would drive the celt tighter and tighter into the handle.
Below is a wooden celt handle. The thinner end of the celt was inserted into the hole.
