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Product Description
SEE MORE AFRICAN NEOLITHIC TOOLS AND ARTIFACTS
This is the second (AND LAST) of only two extraordinarily rare stone oil fat lamps from the African Neolithic Capsian culture, that we ever managed to acquire in our private collection. For the past 26 years, one of our primary focuses in ancient history has been the African Neolithic and in all that time, we have only encountered two authentic stone oil lamps, this being the second and last specimen we will offer. Noted historical authority, Duncan Caldwell, author of the "Old World Typology and Price Guide" section of all the Overstreets Indian Arrowhead Guide publications, features a pecked stone Capsian lamp, in the Overstreets 7th edition, page 1092. In it, he emphasizes the extraordinary rarity of these objects. In that guide dated all the way back to 2001, he appraises these amps from $850 - $1450, prices 25 years old!, giving some bearing of the scarcity to this under-priced, highly impressive specimen offered here.
This amazing specimen was fashioned by a Capsian Neolithic individual out of sandstone. You can see the natural formation layers on the sides in some areas. Unlike small stone grinding mills, this example has an offset handle and asymmetrical cup depression for the fat oil, that was ground into the stone. Dating to the early Capsian Neolithic, the 10,000 years that have passed in open desert exposure would have eliminated any trace of burnt organic substance often seen in ancient terracotta oil lamps of the ancient world, many thousands of years younger. Found in an ancient Sahara river bed, you can see mineral encrustations on the edges of the lamp. Sediment has also collected in the oil cup basin and is original, as found. In Comparison to the prevalence of a large amount of ceramic oil lamps in the Ancient World, a fat lamp from the Neolithic is incomparably rare! Again, this is only one of two examples we have ever handled!
Made of sandstone, the bottom of the lamp still has the original collection label intact. This can be removed with acetone if desired. Ancient mineral deposits are deeply impacted in ALL micro-crevices - evidence of age, authenticity and lack of any modern alterations. No modern grinding or damage is visible - this extraordinary example is exactly as originally made! Truly, a "holy grail" specimen for the most advanced collections.