TIL Many bronze age peoples forgot what stone age tools were, and thought discovered ones as some kind of mystical talismans or signs from a thunder god
TIL Many bronze age peoples forgot what stone age tools were, and thought discovered ones as some kind of mystical talismans or signs from a thunder god
Neolithic stone axes were known as thunderstones and thought to have magical powers
Also mistaken for fulgurite by the more naturalistically minded, apparently. Maybe most common in the Nordics, based on viking references?
Additional links:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/100810-thor-thors-hammer-viking-graves-thunderstones-science
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukonvaaja [Finnish]
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A lot of these hand axes may have had some kind of not-strictly-functional purpose during their heydey in the stone ages as well. Heaps of them show no evidence of wear or use and are noticably gorgeous - just really pleasingly shaped.
Kind of like modern pickup trucks? Some get actual use, many more are just pretty and for the illusion of usefulness.
Kind of like modern pickup trucks
Except nice to look at, yep!
Pick ups seem like a great example because they are so often a status/identify token.
I also don't find them particularly good looking, but their owners sure do!
I like identity token for trucks that never see truck use.