Arkalochori Axe
2nd millennium BC Minoan labrys
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Through Casting
The axe-head is of cast bronze, with a circular hole for a shaft in the centre. The cutting edges to either side "must initially have been sharp". Given its age and corrosion, it cannot be determined whether it had any wear from use. The axe-head is 241 mm across, and around the shaft hole 74 mm wide. It was found as part of a large deposit, that entirely lacked objects in stone and other materials that are usually found in such deposits, including only objects in various metals, including silver and gold. Accordingly, it has been suggested that the partly-walled up cave functioned as a storeroom for a local guild of metal-workers producing these items.
It has been suggested that these symbols might be Linear A, although some scholars disagree.
The Arkalochori axe (Museum number X2416), and the Phaistos Disc are exhibited at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum (Galleries V and VII, respectively). They share some symbols.
Inscription
Of the fifteen signs, two appear to be unique. The following suggestions for comparison with Linear A and Phaistos Disc glyphs are attributed to Torsten Timm (2004). Reading top to bottom, right to left, the symbols are:
Note that reading top to bottom, right to left after turning the inscription counterclockwise gives a different sequence and numbering of the glyphs.