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Product Description
SEE MORE NEANDERTHAL MOUSTERIAN STONE TOOLS
In the Ninth Edition of the Overstreets Indian Arrowhead Price Guide, there is a back section that deals with Old World Artifacts by noted authority, Duncan Caldwell. On page 1162, item #65 a rare Mousterian spheroid bola stone is shown identical to this specimen, from France, as well. Caldwell notes the immeasurable rarity of the object and places a value of $1900 - $2900 in this 2005 year publication, over 20 years ago.
Made and used by Neanderthals between between 160,000 and 40,000 years ago, this is an extremely rare quartzite Mousterian bola or spheroid of the Middle Paleolithic. It was found in Compiègne, Oise Department, Northern France, and is complete with no modern damage. Mousterian stone spheroid bolas are an enigmatic tool / weapon of the Neanderthals. There are several scientific research links at the end of this page regarding these rare objects. Considering the size and shape, it would seem like the most plausible explanation for its purpose would be either as a throwing stone for war or hunting, or to be used as a hammerstone to break large game animal bones to extract prized marrow for nourishment. Different than stone hammerstones used in flintknapping where sharp impact damage areas are seen, this spheroid shows no such damage, ruling it out as a hammerstone for stone tool making.
In all our travels in Europe and with 40 years of collecting experience, this is the first and only specimen we have handled that dates to the Mousterian of Europe. All other rare examples we know of exist solely in museum collections from what we have seen. Some of the "sides" show flattened areas but it is undetermined if this is natural or done by purpose. The entire surface shows prehistoric patina and mineral deposits still embedded in all microscopic crevices and surfaces - irrefutable evidence of age and authenticity.
As Neanderthals hunted large game such as Woolly Mammoth, Woolly Rhinoceros, Bison, Horse, Aurochs, and Megaloceros, they would have needed a stone heavy enough to finish the kill of a wounded and captured animal in a hunt. Breaking the large limb bones of hunted megafauna would have also necessitated a heavy round stone ball such as this to break the bones during butchering. This example seems like it would have been too heavy to throw but a strong Neanderthal hunter could have had the strength to launch such an object which would have proven effective in causing serious body injury if hit.
For the ultimate rare Middle Paleolithic Neanderthal weapon, there is no other object that is more rare than this specimen.
Found in one of the most iconic regions of Neanderthal Stone Age history, France is home to some of Europe's most spectacular Paleolithic sites. These sites have long been closed and off-limits to any collecting, which makes this scarce prehistoric weapon a highly desirable acquisition piece for the best collections or investment! This Mousterian bola spheroid comes from our personal collection and before us, from a very old private French collection. Today, all source sites have been closed and protected for many decades, preventing further digging of any new artifacts - all the factors that will continue to drive values and prices for these rare artifacts up at a consistent rate of appreciation.
RESEARCH:
https://www.donsmaps.com/laquina.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160819084826.htm
