This hafted axe with a partially broken wood handle is one of the most unique artifacts ever found. What makes this artifact so unusual is that the handle was petrified after it was hafted! This is obvious because the axe head was attached to the handle with bitumen (asphaltum) when it was originally made, and the bitumen itself has become petrified meaning it had to have been done post-hafting!

This unique piece was in collection of Jeb Taylor, a well-known artifact authenticator and author of many books on artifacts. The hafted axe comes with Jeb's COA which, among other data, states that the axe handle was tested and analyzed by R.A. Varney at the Paleoresearch Institute in Golden, Colorado and it was determined that during the process of petrification, the wood was 84% replaced by calcium carbonate. Unfortunately, the location of where the axe was found is unknown as is the culture with which it was associated although Mr. Taylor suggests on the COA that it was believed to be from the S.E. US.

This outstanding piece is the center of attraction at any artifact show where it's displayed (See accompanying article from the Peru, Indiana 2023 show).



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