Remember The Axe...
Have you ever wondered “what is axe throwing”, “why would anyone want to throw axes” or “why does axe throwing feel so awesome?” The answers may be deeper than you think. The human connection to the axe goes back thousands of years. Throughout time this simple tool has played a vital role in shaping our collective history and even our existence. Given those implications, could we possibly even have an affinity for this configuration of wood and metal embedded in our very DNA?
The oldest ax ever found dates back 45,000 years to the Kimberly region of Northern Australia. This ax was a ground edge tool made by affixing a sharpened stone to a wooden handle. Another similar axe dating back 35,000 years was found in Japan. We see that in separate regions this technology was essential, possibly even a universal extraction of the human mind. Ancient humans would have used the axes for many things including harvesting/butchering wildlife for sustenance and resrouces, digging in soil to plant crops, cutting wood and other materials, defending themselves against other tribes and as ceremonial pieces for rituals.
The axe also goes hand in hand with one of the greatest and most essential discoveries in human history: Fire. Early humans would have used fire for warmth, light, cooking, crafting and protection from animals. A favorite song of mine paints quite a representation of this relationship between the axe, fire and humans. The following excerpt is from “Axe” by The Steel Woods
“I will swing my axe, don’t let the flames go down
Carve up some of that kindlin’
There’s plenty of wood around
Well, I’ve seen the devil’s shadow underneath the moon
Keep that fire a-goin’, the sun is comin’ soon”
I imagine the ancient humans who would have been intent on keeping their fires going all night long. The “devil’s shadow”, aside from the obvious religious connotations, could be a sabre-tooth cat or any of various real or imagined threats lurking in the darkness. This fear of the dark has been ingrained into us. The axe was the best way to keep that fire going, ease that fear and keep those dangers at bay. Ancient humans would have been constantly chopping and splitting wood for this reason.
Going forward in time the axe played more of a role in weaponry and warfare for many of our ancestors including, of course, the Vikings, Native Americans, Celts, Africans, Mongolians, Germanic Tribes and virtually every faction of people who participated in any type of territorial or cultural disputes. The question of who was the first to actually throw their axes is one of great debate among historians. It could have been the Vikings or Frankish tribes according to many accounts. However, it is questionable whether an axe would have been thrown in battle as you would not want to part with your weapon on the battlefield and an axe would have been a prized possession for any warrior. Axes were more likely to have been thrown as a display of skill or friendly competition, and well…Sport!
In modern times the axe has shifted back to its role as a tool and more recently sporting equipment. While its usage is not as vital now as in ancient times, the axe’s utility has not been eroded; axes are still used by many including lumberjacks, arborists, firefighters, campers, military and survivalists. Many of us such as myself may have a camp hatchet or splitting maul in the garage or backyard.
Coming from a logging family, my father and uncles taught my brother and me how to split wood at a fairly young age. In my logging years we would keep an axe or two around the job site for starting fires on chilly mornings to warm our feet and hands while discussing the work plan for the day. Though machinery and chainsaws have taken over in most large scale tree farming operations, it was from one of these very job sites that I harvested the log rounds that started my axe throwing career. Propping up a few rounds in the backyard, my roommates and I would throw axes for fun. This turned into discussions of starting a local axe throwing business. Today we offer axe throwing in four cities and work with thousands of throwers each month. There’s nothing like teaching someone who has possibly never even held an axe to skillfully hurl one twelve feet down the range and with a thud sink it into the target. The result is a big smile and boost of confidence every time, which invariably leads to energetic cheers and dances of all varieties. There is something to be said for this experience. I think Peter Buchanan – Smith explains it nicely in his Axe Handbook:
“The axe– unlike any other tool, maybe any other object— is deeply embedded in our DNA. It’s the oldest tool known to humankind, and when you hold one, let alone swing one, you’re connecting to an ancient muscle memory.”
So maybe axe throwing is more than the latest sports craze. Maybe there is a lot more to it than that. Could axe throwing be a form of unlocking a tiny glimpse into our past? A reuniting with the ways of our ancestors? If you have never swung or thrown an axe you are doing yourself an injustice. I truly believe that we share a complex connection with this tool and I encourage you all to…
Remember the axe!
