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However, examination of the photo shows relatively few damaged "bit edges". Rather, most of the damage I see is breakage associated with the hafting cavity or socket on these bronze (90-degree-hafted) axe heads.
Surprisingly, there appears to be few examples of damage to the (relatively-fragile) haft-binding loops...
Several of the axe heads appear to be intact and re-usable, but there may be cracks or fractures not visible in the photos, A number of the samples have sub-rectangular, rather than circular socket openings; the rectangle "corners" could well be stress-risers and fracture-initiation points...
Several fractures appear to be at the bottom of the socket hole, and there are clear indications of a weak (wedge-shaped) socket bottom design.
At any rate, the above failure indications -- plus the presence of amorphous melted bronze -- would tend to imply that, at least, the group in the photo with the gloved hand -- may well have been deemed non-repairable, and were scheduled for re-casting.
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That's a lot of inference from scant data, but, it makes sense to me...
YMMV... '-)
TXnMA
