Native American, North America, Eastern Woodland, ca. 200 to 1000 CE. A wonderful and rare example of a hand axe head that is hand-carved and pecked from mottled dark gray stone with red, cream, and light gray inclusions. The lengthy tool features a hefty, acutely angled blade head, a three-quarters hand groove around the midsection, and a thick handle. Protruding from behind the handle is an unusual anthropomorphic face with skeletal features like shallow orbitals, a protruding, beak-like nose, and a toothy grimace. Ancient hand tools were typically used for utilitarian purposes, however more elaborate tools like this example were perhaps created as votive offerings for a deceased individual. Size: 7.2" L x 2.2" W x 2.3" H (18.3 cm x 5.6 cm x 5.8 cm)
Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000
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#159864
Condition
Minor nicks, pitting, and abrasions commensurate with age, with softening to some anthropomorphic facial details on handle, and very light encrustations, otherwise intact and very good. Nice preservation to most facial features on handle.