EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MASTERFULLY FLAKED PRESTIGE WAR AXE OF THE TENERIAN AFRICAN NEOLITHIC *CAP445

Product Description

SEE MORE AFRICAN NEOLITHIC TOOLS AND ARTIFACTS

On a dinosaur fossil-hunting expedition in 2000 by a team of scientific explorers led by Paul Sereno, a paleodune and ancient lakebed site was discovered that yielded over 200 ancient burials of Kiffian and Tenerian people.  The scientific findings showed that this area was once a humid lake region that was home to a hunter-fisher-gatherer people.  The area became known as the "Green Sahara" for its once fertile and habitable landscape.  Noted paleontologist, Dr. Paul Sereno, famous for other Saharan dinosaur discoveries, shot into the archaeological spotlight with his discovery of the ancient lakebed cemetery at Gobero in Niger in the year 2000.  Interred in the many burials were numerous stone tools, ceramics, shells, beads and bone harpoons typical for the lifestyle of these ancient people of the Green Sahara.  This exceptional AUTHENTIC artifact is similar to the specimens found at Gobero.  It comes from the same period and Tenerian Neolithic Culture of that famous discovery. 

Made of a unique banded vesicular basalt, this supremely flaked bifacial war axe was undoubtedly a prestige weapon.  The care and skill that went into the shaping and flaking goes way beyond what an ordinary weapon would have required for basic use.  The expertly knapped edge is remarkable in its consistency and smoothness.  The cross-sectional profile is very thin which would have required exceptional knapping skill to achieve on this type of stone.  Since at this point in history, trees were scarce, axes were not needed or used for felling trees.  In addition, the size and thinness of this specimen rules out such a purpose.  Based on the design, it is unmistakable this is war axe.  This axe would have been attached to a wooden shaft handle and hafted securely by the use sinew and fiber cord.  A masterpiece Neolithic specimen that demonstrate the extreme skill of the ancient Tenerian artisan that originally flaked this masterpiece weapon. 

Then entire surface features a heavy desert varnish patina and bi-colored staining from laying undisturbed on the desert floor, thousands of years exposed, which caused the differing colors and glossier patina on one side.  Intact mineral deposits in all micro-crevices and lack of any modern flaking or crushing - a testament to its age and authenticity.  Original collection ink label still intact.

We are very fortunate to have acquired an old French collection of these artifacts, years ago.  Nevertheless, we have a very limited amount and once sold, we most certainly will never be able to replace them.  Objects from the Tenerian African Neolithic culture are so rare that not even most major museums have a single object in their collection. 

HISTORY

The Earth has been warming and cooling for millions of year, well long before humans were on the planet.  One of the most dramatic examples of climatic change in the last 10,000 years is the desiccation of what is now the Sahara desert.  Prior to as recent as 3000 B.C., the South Central Sahara region in Africa was a humid lake savanna.  It was home to a thriving culture of ancient humans known as the Tenerians and before them, the Kiffians.  The occupation of this area by these two peoples occurred continuously from around 7700 B.C. to the drying of the Sahara in 2500 B.C.. 

In the final Pleistocene and early Holocene Periods around 10,000 years ago, the South Central Sahara Desert was once a highly favorable environment for hunters, gatherers and pastoralists.  Freshwater lakes existed between the dunes in what is now the Tenere region, Lake Chad was eight times its current size, the highlands supported Mediterranean forest trees, and a diverse variety of both large and small fauna flourished there.  The slow drying out process of the Sahara, began 7,000 years ago and ended 4500 years ago resulting in the barren conditions that exist to this day.  As we progress through time from the end of the Pleistocene towards the end of the Neolithic Period there, we see humans relying more on meat from raised animals as opposed to hunted animals that once roamed wild in the formerly Green Sahara.