Handaxes are oval or tear-shaped stone tools, with a rounded end that was likely gripped by hand and a sharp pointed end that was used for various functions, such as cutting, digging, or chopping. Unlike earlier stone tools, handaxes were deliberately shaped for a specific purpose by alternately removing flakes from both faces of the stone, resulting in a characteristic zigzag pattern on the left and right edges of the handaxe. Handaxes have been discovered in many parts of the world, including Western Europe, the United Kingdom, Africa, the Middle East, and India. It is believed that handaxes were first produced by Homo erectus around 1.7 million years ago, and they remained in wide use until around 10,000 years ago.