Northwestern Africa, Sahara Desert, Acheulean (Lower Paleolithic), ca. 1.2 million to 500,000 years ago. This stone tool is a lanceolate hand axe with incredible flaking, design, and size! The Acheulean era hand axes were made and used by early humans of the primitive species Homo erectus (ergaster). Light blushes of orange on one side are caused by millennia of this side facing down and absorbing the minerals of the Saharan sands. The other side shows a slightly different contrasting hue - a prized trait only found in specimens from the Northwestern Sahara. The surface areas of the axe display a "desert varnish" - a natural glossy surface from when the tool lay exposed to wind and sand that polished and deposited microscopic layers of silica on the surfaces of the axe for millennia. The chopping tip and edges are intact and well-made with evidence of original prehistoric primary and secondary flaking. These features are a testament to the great age of this Saharan Paleolithic axe! Size: 9.25" L x 4.25" W (23.5 cm x 10.8 cm)

This remarkably aesthetic Acheulean bifacial lanceolate hand axe should not be missed by advanced collectors. The incredible flaking and form demonstrate it was made way beyond what was necessary for a utilitarian purpose. This leads many to theorize that these hand axes were the earliest form of art, flaked by master toolmakers to a degree that conveys prestige, status, and achievement. Seldom will you find examples of this size, condition, and form ever available for sale! The axe was surface-collected from an exposed Lower Paleolithic Acheulian site in the Sahara Desert of Northwest Africa. These Acheulean Lower Paleolithic hand axes from Africa represent the first scientifically documented intelligent tools made by primitive humans. Prior to these Saharan Acheulean hand axes, only crude pebble and flake tools existed in the human fossil record. During this time in prehistory when this Lower Paleolithic tool was made, the Sahara Desert (where this stone tool was found) was a savanna rich in wildlife. Prior to the prehistoric global warming that turned the vast region to desert, early humans lived alongside prehistoric giraffes, bison, and elephants which were vital to their survival. Hunting and butchering these animals would have required specialized tools such as this example.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: ex-private Dutch collection, formed in the early 1980s

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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.

#167894

Complete with no repair or restoration. Mineral deposits are intact.