The axe is essentially a pick with a wide cutting edge that can be either flat or toothed. Distinguished between the marks made by a flat-edged axe and a flat chisel, or a tooth-edged axe and tooth chisel, can be difficult, but axes are typically used for relatively rough work on soft stones, like limestone and sandstone. Axe marks are most often found in the Roman world on building blocks or sculpture in north-western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
