Northwestern Europe, Southeast England, Middlesex, Lower Paleolithic, Acheulean period, ca. 400,000 to 250,000 years ago. This superb flint bifacial hand axe was fashioned by Homo erectus, the first primitive humans to occupy Europe! Made in the Acheulean tradition by flaking and chipping into a chopping blade, this was the predominant or "cutting edge" tool technology of this time. This museum-class specimen is large and displays superb flaking throughout. The extreme age of the flint has patinated to a warm ivory cream hue with the original sediment minerals still intact. The proximal end displays a classic Acheulean flaked grip flat facet to fit into the web of the palm when held. The tip is intact, and the entire axe shows the finest masterful flaking and form, a tool that was prized by the owner. Due to the size and heft, and wear on the tip, it is highly probable this hand axe was used to smash open major bones of all the Ice Age large game animals of the day such as mammoth, bison, horse, and rhino. Size: 8" L x 3.75" W (20.3 cm x 9.5 cm)
Fine quality British found Lower Paleolithic hand axes like this are legendary among collectors. They all were found long ago in the early 20th century and many in the 19th century when open gravel pits were commonly dug during the industrial age of England. Most of the finest known European hand axes in major museums hail from these former English gravel pits. English Lower Paleolithic hand axes often move from one private collection to the next as many sites are now destroyed, built over or protected, and fine specimens such as this axe rarely appear on the market.
Provenance: ex-private British collection, formed in the 1940s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#172851
Condition
Intact with no repair or restoration. Heavy prehistoric patina and mineral deposits. Later period ancient chip on one side of grip edge.