Object archaeologists unlock the secrets of axes

PRODUCTION - 21 December 2023, Saxony-Anhalt, Halle (Saale): In a laboratory at the University of Halle, object archaeologist Laura Dietrich holds an original in her hand next to replicas of Stone Age axes. The scientist is examining the traces of stone axes from the rich collection of the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle. Duplicates were made of each of the selected original pieces. These copies are used to work on various materials such as wood and bone. The traces of use on the copies are then compared with the originals. The scientists want to find out what role the tools played when people settled down in central Germany. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa (Photo by Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images)