Ancient axe found in Denmark

A wooden deer antler axe dating back 8,400 years was discovered in Denmark with its wooden handle still intact. The artifact was found on the island of Egholm, near Aalborg, by researchers from Nordjyske Museer, as reported in an excavation report published in mid-October 2026 by Torben Sarauw, head of archaeology at the museum.

Rare preservation of the handle

The axe is remarkable because the wooden handle has survived the entire Mesolithic period, a time when wooden artifacts almost always decayed. While Danish archaeologists had previously found many deer antler blades, these were typically without handles. This axe, however, is a complete object with both blade and handle assembled.

Unique name and construction

The object has a traditional Danish name, hjortetaksøkse, meaning "deer antler axe." The blade was carved from the antlers of a male deer and mounted on a hardwood shaft. However, antler is more resistant to decay than wood, which is why most museums display only the blade parts of such tools. A preserved example with a handle is extremely rare, not just in Scandinavia but globally.

Wet environment aids preservation

The subsurface of Egholm has acted as a natural conservation chamber. Saturated with water, the soil allows almost no oxygen to pass through, preventing the bacteria that break down plant fibers from developing. These wet layers contain a large amount of organic matter, and Torben Sarauw describes the environment as exceptionally well-preserved. The archaeologist believes the island holds significant potential for future discoveries.