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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 Acheulean CLEAVER hand axe was collected in the South Central Sahara Desert of West Africa. We acquired it years ago from an old private collection dating to the 1960's and 1950's, of a former desert safari guide from France. In the past 34 years of business, we have never seen a more impressive and visually aesthetic example as this from this region of Africa. Prehistoric hand axes from West Africa are normally not available on the market but besides that, you will probably never see an Acheulean cleaver hand axe this nice from ANYWHERE in Africa - it's simply that amazing! Acheulean CLEAVER hand axes are also much more rare than the typical almond-shaped Acheulean hand axes.
The workmanship on this specimen far exceeds what was necessary to make a functional hand axe indicating this is a PRESTIGE tool as much as it was functional. Adding further evidence to that theory, it is made from a rare and highly aesthetic stone - banded golden jasper! Hundreds of thousands of years laying exposed in the desert undisturbed, caused an extraordinary wind-polishing to one side. The photos do not show this as much as the video above does so make sure you see that video! There is a faceted grip by flaking one edge of the proximal end. This would have been pressed against the palm for comfort when in use. There is a flaked depression on one side where the fingers would fit into when held, as well. The broad chopping edge is PERFECTLY made without ANY modern or prehistoric damage.
This type hand axe would have been needed to dismember and butcher the large hunted game of the day such as prehistoric giraffe, hippos and elephants. Its weight and size would have been needed for such a task. Perhaps it was a special tool used after a successful hunt in celebration. Regardless, it is the finest made and most beautiful of its type we have ever encountered in over three decades of our careers!
This is an investment-grade Paleolithic artifact. GENUINE Acheulean 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.
