Anmerkungen zu einer bronzezeitlichen nackenhakenaxt aus dem sammlungsbestand des RGZM

In contrast with Early Bronze Age shaft hole axes in stone, their metal counterparts are particularly rare in Asia Minor. So-called »Nackenhakenäxte« (hook-butted axes) count amongst the rarest variants of shaft hole axes; moreover, examples of this type lack in most cases an archaeologically documented context. The RGZM in Mainz possesses one example of this hook-butted axe group with the findspot indicated as »Troy«. Exact typological parallels with a reliable documentation are not known so far, although one identical piece is said to come from the vicinity of Samsun on the Turkish Black Sea coast. Comparisons with related axes from the 3rd and 2nd millennium B.C. show that the distribution pattern of this type comprises mainly the northern part of Central Anatolia, thus shedding doubt on the findspot indicated for the axe from Mainz. Furthermore, typological details known from both the 3rd and 2nd millennium B.C. might prove that the example from Mainz could be understood as a »link« connecting Anatolian Early and Middle Bronze Age axe shapes.