This trade axe was excavated from the Freelton site in West Flamborough Township in the early 1980s. These iron axes were one of the most common items traded for beaver pelts at a one to one ratio. One trade axe cost about two shillings, while one beaver pelt was sold in England for around 16 shillings, leading to massive profits for traders and associates such as the Hudson’s Bay Company. There are many varieties of axe head, but the two most common ones were a chopping axe (with a broader, heavier head) and a tomahawk (with a narrower, thinner head).

This style of axe is a Biscayan axe, which originates from the Basque peoples of France starting in the 17th century. The stamped design on the side of each axehead, the most common of which is the cross pattern, is a poinçon (maker’s mark). This stamp by a blacksmith indicates the weight of the axe head, with more stamps indicating more weight, for purchase and taxation purposes.

Many of the Freelton axes in the MOA’s collection are in various states of decay. Bare surfaces of iron oxidize rapidly, forming a layer of corrosion (or rust). All of these axes have some level of rust on their surface, but this ranges from a slightly dulled metallic shine with rusting in the small variations on the surface to a thick layer of decay with pitting. The latter is prone to flaking when handled for scanning or repackaging. Corroding iron cannot be truly fixed without highly specialized equipment, but it can be stabilized through storage and desiccant use that create very dry conditions.

The MOA has also undertaken a large 3D scanning project of their actively corroding metal items, which will preserve a record of the Freelton axes for further research. You can access 3D scans of some of the artifacts in the MOA’s collections on Sketchfab at https://sketchfab.com/MuseOntArch

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