Northwestern Europe, England, Coastal Norfolk, Former Bytham River Estuary, Lower Paleolithic period, ca. 900,000 to 450,000 years ago. This is a rare Oldowan stone tool from an area close to the famous Happisburgh footprints, the oldest known human footprints outside of Africa. This artifact is a stone tool scraper created using Oldowan technology. The scraper was made from a flint cobble stone and shows classic textbook features with flakes removed by opposing strikes to create a sharp cutting edge. Much of the original pebble outer cortex remains, providing a naturally ergonomic grip on the tool versus a sharp flake. A heavy, colorful patina and intact mineral deposits deep in flaked micro-crevices demonstrate the great age of this piece! Workmanship is excellent, affording a well thought-out design and functional grips when held. This tool is fascinating to hold; one can only wonder if the maker of the Happisburgh footprints also held this tool. Size: 1.85" L x 1.4" W (4.7 cm x 3.6 cm)

No artifact could be more important or impressive than the first stone tool of Paleolothic Stone Age humans! This Oldowan stone tool scraper dates to the first humans of Europe! It was found in England near the Coastal Norfolk town of Runton, a region home to evidence of some of the oldest human occupation in the United Kingdom, as well as all of Europe. This rare pebble tool was likely fashioned by Homo antecessor over half a million years ago. It was discovered in the same general area of the famous Happisburgh footprints, the oldest known hominid footprints outside Africa, dated to 950,000 years old.

Provenance: private Diamond Springs, California, USA collection; ex-private Dutch collection, formed in the early 1980s; ex-private French collection

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#166805

Complete with no repair or restoration.