A model of a European Neolithic axe, based on the archaeology of the Pfyn Culture (around 3,700-3,300 BCE) around Lake Pfaffikon in Switzerland.  This site and its adjacent related sites belong to the pile driving cultures of the Neolithic, when the cultures were living in stilted villages along lakes, and are now often under water.  At this time in northern Europe, villages were domesticating animals and plant life.  Remains of stone tools such as the celt axe, show us the how the people were able to clear trees and make dwellings in more permanant settlements.  This area used a specialized method of axe construction which utilized a ground celt axe fit into an antler sleeve, believed to reduce shock to the axe and minimize splitting of the wood handle.  For our experimental model here, we used an Elk antler cut in the fashion of the original artifact, with a Basalt Celt around 3 inches long, similar to one of the known celt axes from the site.  This was fit into a handle of Beech wood, around 21 inches long. Our tests of the axe model here showed that this method worked very well for the cutting of wood poles, such as those suitable for shelter building, bow staves, and tool parts.  The videos show some of the testing on a Birch pole around 3 inches in diameter.  It took about 2 minutes of cutting to get through such a pole of solid wood.  The axe cut through several such examples, and is retired now for use as a teaching example, and would also be ready for more functional testing.  It is sold in still usable condition with no cracks in handle or antler.  The 3 inch small celt has had one touch up to the edge, and is still within the edge angles of a functional axe.  The entire axe is still held together tight with a "friction fit" and has no glue or modern components, and remains in perfect shape.