Among the numerous Lenape artifacts on display at the Wicoff House Museum, we also have two axes or tomahawks mounted a wooden handle. While the wood and sinew is modern, the stone axe heads are authentic. Mounted as they are, they help to visualize how these stone axe heads would have been secured and utilized. The weight of these artifacts in one’s hand speaks to the amount of force possible when these tools were being used.

Things to think about: What kind of tools have you used? What are they made of? Think of modern tools that still use wooden handles and what tasks they are used for. How might you accomplish the same tasks only using materials found in nature?