In 1977,0 bronze axes were found in Potou ,Yunlong county ,Yunnan province. Archaeologists determined that these ancient bronze axes were temporaryily buried and range in age from the late Warring States Period to the Western Han dynasty. The diversity of bronze axes at Potou has been examined in relation to western Yunnan plateau and the ancient Ailao bronze culture. In order to reveal technical characteristics of the bronze axes, 16 bronze axes were analyzed by metallurgical examination, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and Xray Fluorescence(XRF).The bronze axes investigated are mostly CuSn binary alloys, but alloys such as CuAs were alsofound. Most of the bronze axes were made by hot and cold forging, and the others by casting. All bronze axes analyzed by SEMEDS occur as copper sulfides and ironcopper sulfides. The preliminary results carry important implications for understanding ancient Ailao metal technology and will make it possible to study ancient Ailao bronze culture.