Chan Yuet Wah. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 214-230). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / List of figures & tables --- p.vi / Chapter Ch. 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Overall objectives --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- "The archaeological site of Sai Ha, Sai Kung" --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Major archaeological discoveries --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Unit of analysis: stone adzes --- p.7 / Chapter Ch. 2 --- Literature Review --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1 --- Archaeological study in Hong Kong --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2 --- Approaches in the study of material culture --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- The “chaine operatoire´ح approach --- p.18 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary of research questions --- p.24 / Chapter Ch. 3 --- Methodology --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1 --- The material --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research methods --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- The chaine operatoire study of stone adzes --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Multi-disciplinary study --- p.48 / Chapter Ch. 4. --- The Chaine Operatoire of Stone Adzes in Late Neolithic Sha Ha - Manufacturing --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1 --- Raw material procurement --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2 --- Manufacturing techniques --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3 --- Stone adze production in Bronze Age Sha Ha --- p.65 / Chapter Ch. 5. --- The Chaine Operatoire of Adzes in Late Neolithic Sha Ha - Morphologies --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1 --- The five types of adzes in Late Neolithic Sha Ha --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2 --- Concave working edge --- p.76 / Chapter 5.3 --- Skewed working edges --- p.78 / Chapter 5.4 --- Morphological changes in Bronze Age Sha Ha --- p.81 / Chapter Ch. 6. --- The Chaine Operatoire of Adzes in Late Neolithic Sha Ha - Functions --- p.88 / Chapter 6.1 --- Experimental results --- p.88 / Chapter 6.2 --- Results of blind tests --- p.98 / Chapter 6.3 --- Functional study of adzes in Late Neolithic Sha Ha --- p.99 / Chapter 6.4 --- Changes in functions of adzes in Bronze Age Sha Ha --- p.109 / Chapter 6.5 --- Stone adzes: other observations --- p.111 / Chapter Ch. 7 --- The Material Culture of Adzes and the Socio-Economic Aspects of Late Neolithic Sha Ha and Changes in Bronze Age Sha Ha --- p.116 / Chapter 7.1 --- The material culture of stone adzes --- p.116 / Chapter 7.2 --- The social and economic aspects: an overview --- p.139 / Chapter 7.3 --- Further research --- p.177 / Chapter Ch. 8 --- Conclusion --- p.182 / "Appendix I Review on Use-Wear Analysis - Development, Limitation & Ways of Improvement" --- p.190 / "Appendix II Use-Wear Features and Identification of Work Material, Motion and Use-Incurred Wears" --- p.200 / Appendix III Production Stage of Stone Adzes --- p.207 / Bibliography --- p.214

Although the copper axes with central shaft-hole from south-eastern Europe have a long history of research, they have not been studied on a transnational basis since the 1960s. What has also been missing is an integrated or holistic approach, trying to use as many methods as possible and better understand the production, use and context of these enigmatic objects. This present research therefore approaches the axes from different angles. A database was compiled in order to find answers on questions such as the patterns of distribution, context, fragmentation and deformation of axes. For the distribution of axes in general as well as different attributes like fragmentation and typology, the content of the database was imported into GIS software and analysed. Aspects of production were considered through experimental archaeology, metallographic analysis and a re-discovered axe blank with missing shafthole. Especially the missing moulds make it difficult to fully understand the production sequence. The typology was re-evaluated and modified to ensure comparability across modern national boundaries. The context and background was developed through a thorough review of the literature and combined with theoretical considerations. The integration of all these approaches yielded some interesting results. The great variability in shape combined with the results of metallographic analyses clearly shows that a variety of production techniques were used, but it is as yet difficult to relate these to specific geographic areas or even cultural groups. In fact the typology as well as the practice of marking the axes indicate that traditional archaeological ‘cultures’ rarely correspond to the distribution of a type or to the practice of marking the axes. They show instead that there were different spheres of influence, some even more localised and others much larger (like the Carpathian Basin) than specific ceramic traditions. These different levels of belonging, as well as the increasing visibility of the individual in the archaeological record, show that it was a period of complex cultural patterns and interactions. The axes were a part of these networks of the daily life on many different levels from the strict utilitarian to the ritualised placement in burial contexts.