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Indian axe

Indian axe
Object name 
Indian axe
Date 
17th century
Medium 
Iron, wood
Dimensions 
Overall: 23 1/2 x 6 x 1 3/4 in. ( 59.7 x 15.2 x 4.4 cm )
Description 
Axe composed of tapered wood handle with wrought iron axe head connected to end; axe head has criss-cross mark on each side.
Credit Line 
Gift of R. W. G. Vail
Object Number 
1946.71
Marks 
impressed: on each side of axe head: pound sign enclosed in circle
Gallery Label 
According to the donor, this axe was found at Gangegora, the ancient capital of the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois on Boughton Hill, Victor, New York. This town was visited by the French and the Dutch and destroyed in the Devonville Expedition in 1687; it was never occupied thereafter. The axe was made in Europe and might have been traded to Native Americans.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Creative: Tronvig Group