I’ve found this lovely description and set of pictures of tranchet axes at Star Carr – from around 8500 BC.
http://www.prehistory.yas.org.uk/content/starcarr.html
Also a video of Will Lord making a handaxe, then turning it into a tranchet style one.
The key is the last blow parallel to the edge, giving you a razor-sharp cutting surface. When it breaks or dulls, you simply repeat the process – if you’re lucky, the striking platform will still be there; so it’d take you seconds to sharpen your axe.
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