**Originally Listed At $300**

Northern Europe, Scandinavia to France & Germany, Ertebolle-Ellerbek Culture, Late Mesolithic period or earlier, ca. 5300 to 4000 BCE. A collection of 3 terrific Mesolithic Nordic flint artifacts, each roughly spherical for use as hammerstones to strike flakes off other stones or bones to create tools. The ancient Ertebolle (commonly grouped with the near identical Ellerbek culture) ranged from modern day Norway into Germany and Netherlands, mainly living a hunting / fishing and gathering existence, traversing waterways in dugout boats. Wood, bone, shells, clay, and flint were their main materials, and hammerstones were invaluable for creating tools in this pre-metalworking period. Documented re-use of older tools is known in later French sites, and these three may have been repurposed for grinding grain which would explain the slightly polished areas. One is this group is split; the geometry suggests frost breakage due to millennia spent in the elements. Size: 4.3" Diameter (10.9 cm)

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#174809

One is split from exposure the elements / frost. Chips and abrasions throughout as expected with age and use, but overall great condition! Light mineral deposits in recessed areas. The hammerstone with the split also has fossilized shell inclusions in the surface!