This grooved axe fragment was recovered by Kansas Historical Society archeologists on the surface of a possible Archaic site in Elk County. The site was visited by professional archeologists five times before its apparent destruction by earth removal, plowing, and collecting. It is hard to determine whether the axe was fully- or 3/4-grooved because of the manner in which it broke. While 3/4 grooved axes are frequently recovered from late Archaic sites, their use is not restricted to that time period. Fully-grooved axes often date to the Middle to Late Archaic period. Axes like these are made by pecking a hard stone into a rough shape and then grinding and polishing it into its final state. Axes like this one get their name from the hafting groove that either completely or partially encircles the body.