Billhook knife

Further information: 
In grave no. 7, excavated by Oluf Rygh in 1875, a billhook was found. This is a tool used for working leather products and animal hides. A total of 4 billhooks have been found at Veien. This indicates that hunting and trapping have been important aspects of the economy alongside the strong agricultural traditions seen in the Ringerike region.

The handle on this billhook is twisted, a shape often seen in tools such as this. It is slightly reminiscent of a Bronze Age razor, but its shape slightly differs and was probably not used for the same purpose. 

 

The billhook, used for processing animal products obtained from hunting, may be seen as symbolizing governance over the animal kingdom, while the sickle displayed in the same exhibit can be linked to governance over the plant kingdom. Fertility would have been an important aspect of prehistoric life, as access to food, equipment, and the power derived from these depended on controlling and extracting natural resources. A billhook and a sickle would be essential tools in this context.