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Product Description
For comparison prices, please see the "Old World Typology and Price Guide" section of the "OVERSTREET IDENTIFICATION AND PRICE GUIDE TO INDIAN ARROWHEADS" editions 7th, 8th and 9th.
SEE MORE LOWER PALEOLITHIC ACHEULEAN STONE ARTIFACTS
This amazingly rare hand axe was originally found in the Arabian Desert in Jordan in the 1950's by a London collector. We acquired it years ago with two other examples from the same collection. In the past 3 decades, never have we seen prehistoric hand axes of this quality and legal provenance, from Jordan. Not only is this hand axe in supreme original condition, it shows incredible flaking and form and an extremely thin, bone-piercing pick end that has survived prehistory, INTACT! The proximal end that is held in the hand, is unusually bulbous, likely designed as such to allow a firm grip when used.
This is a classic Acheulian PICK HAND AXE. It was ideally suited for smashing and piercing the major limb bones of large hunted prey in prehistory. Its weight and narrow, pointed tip made such a task possible. This is one of the most beautiful and finest made Lower Paleolithic hand axes we have ever offered AND THE FIRST AND ONLY INSTANCE OF ONE FROM THE ARABIAN DESERT! It demonstrates the skill and ability of Early Man as a tool maker, to the highest order. Hand axes of this workmanship are theorized to be PRESTIGE PIECES, having been made to a much higher degree than utilitarian needs. It features every possible aspect of a prize specimen. The flaking is superb and shows masterful craftsmanship from its primitive human creator. The aesthetic is something that must be seen and held to appreciate! The broad grip also had practical function as it cushioned the blows to the hand when this axe was used in large game butchering tasks. Such a prehistoric hand axe as this is as rare as they get and seldom will you find examples of this size, condition and form, ever available for sale. Certainly, you will not find them available for purchase from Jordan!
This is an investment-grade Paleolithic artifact. Specimens like this are one in many, many thousands and are exceptionally rare. In "as found" ORIGINAL condition. NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. GENUINE Acheulian hand axes of this quality are rare and recent realized prices at major auction houses are proving what we have been saying for years that authentic high grade tools of primitive man remain one of the most promising investments.
A Lower Paleolithic stone tool artifact represents the first intelligent design type known to science that was made by primitive humans. Prior to these Acheulian tools, only crude pebble tools existed in the human fossil record.
