
Though they aren’t found for sale as frequently as chipped stone artifacts like arrowheads and knives, ground stone axes have a strong following among buyers of prehistoric artifacts. On the rare occasions when they’re offered for sale, especially large or well formed axes can sell for one to five hundred dollars. By definition, ground axes are made by selecting a raw material that can be shaped, finished, and sharpened by grinding the tool on a different stone, as opposed to choosing materials like chert that are fashioned into tools by flaking or chipping.
Key Factors
There are several important characteristics to look for when examining a stone axe.
First is the workmanship and degree of finish. Is the tool completely finished on all surfaces, or did the maker take a hand sized piece of river rock and do just enough crude shaping to produce a chopping surface on one end? In areas where they’re typical, some axes feature carefully fashioned 3/4 or full grooves that would have been useful when attaching a handle. The very finest ground axes are well executed, fully finished and polished on all surfaces, and have well-defined cutting edges.

Materials commonly used for ground axes include quartzite, hematite, granite, and slate, all of which were shaped and worked into serviceable cutting and chopping implements. In addition to their suitability for shaping and grinding, all of these materials also lent themselves to the fine finish and polish that is typical of high quality examples.
In addition to being well made, prime examples of ground stone axes should have some signs of wear and age. Any amount of handling or utilitarian use produced small nicks and dings, as well as natural luster and polish. Since most have been buried for hundreds or thousands of years, there can also be noticeable patina from the buildup of calcium or staining from iron-based ground water. When examining an axe that looks too perfect or is too sharp, look closely for marks of machine grinding, and look closely for any of the normal wear signs. If there’s any question in your mind, pass it up.
Pricing is subjective, but some broad guidelines apply. Crude, poorly worked axes can usually be bought for $3 to $5 and resold for $10 to $15. Moderately good axes can be bought for $15 to $20 and marketed for $50 to $75. Large, beautifully crafted axes may cost $50 to $75, but can easily bring $300 to $500.

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