Northern Africa, Sahara Desert, Niger region, Tenerian (also Tenerean) culture, Neolithic Period, ca. 3000 to 2000 BCE. A fine pair of nicely proportioned hand tools used for skinning and slicing, each hand-knapped from light or dark green flint. The peripheries of the ovoid tools feature uniformly sharp cutting edges and smooth surface textures on their faces. During this time period, weather conditions called the Neolithic Subpluvial meant that the Sahara was a green, fertile landscape; cultures that produced rock art flourished during this time period. The people who lived here had plentiful game to hunt and lived in a place with savannahs and woodlands in which they could have a sustainable hunter-gatherer lifestyle. These people also produced some of the oldest pottery in the world and, from about 5000 BCE, had domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats. Size of largest (light green): 2.365" L x 2.28" W (6 cm x 5.8 cm)
Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000
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#159993
Condition
Both pieces have minor abrasions and nicks commensurate with age, use, and knapping process, with very light encrustations within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and very good. Nice surface smoothness throughout. The word "Niger" written in black ink on verso of each.