FLINT NEANDERTHAL MOUSTERIAN NATURALLY BACKED KNIFE TOOL FROM CAEN FRANCE *M435

Product Description

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This authentic stone tool was fashioned by Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic period, over 40,000 years ago.  It is made of flint and was collected from a former Neanderthal occupation cave site in Caen, France.  The site this specimen was found has long been closed to collecting and is protected by the government, making this Paleolithic artifact exceedingly rare and desirable!  Because collecting these artifacts has been off-limits for decades, genuine fine grade Mousterian Neanderthal tools such as this specimen, must come from old, private collections.  The ever-increasing buyer market in pursuit of a very limited quantity of fine grade Old World Paleolithic artifacts continues to push values and prices up, as time goes on.

There is an interesting story about this small collection of Neanderthal flake tools we acquired from Caen, France.  The original collector who found them was very inexperienced in recognizing Paleolithic flake tools.  His lack of being able to discern regular stone from actual human-made tools resulted in him mostly picking up hand axes since they are more obviously flaked than flake tools.  Of the flake tools he picked up, these had to be so amazing for him to know they were actual Paleolithic tools rather than debris flakes.  Because of his ignorance, the flake tool collection was very small and only included the finest Mousterian Neanderthal flake tools, most being the absolute best we have ever seen from this region!

This is a Neanderthal flint flake tool classified as a NATURALLY-BACKED KNIFE.  It is complete with no modern damage and all its original flaking.  This type of knife features a cutting edge on one side and a natural cortex backing on the other.  The original stone surface serves as a suitable flat area to press the fingers down on when the tool is used.  The natural surface is utilized instead of one that is flaked if the toolmaker could not reasonably improve on what nature already made.   The cutting edge is sharp with the flake having been struck from a prepared core to yield long, sharp-edge flakes.  Evidence of original use and prehistoric re-sharpening can be seen.  Intact mineral deposits and deep patina on the flint surfaces and hinge fractures to testify to its authenticity and lack of any modern alterations.  A superb example from this famous Neanderthal region!