INVESTMENT-CLASS LARGE GOLD PUDDINGSTONE SUB TRIANGULAR ACHEULEAN HAND AXE MADE BY HOMO ERGASTER OF STONE AGE AFRICA *ACH476

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 INVESTMENT-CLASS Acheulean hand axe was made and used by early humans of the primitive species Homo erectus (ergaster).  It was surface-collected from an exposed Lower Paleolithic Acheulean site in the Sahara Desert of Northwest Africa.  Acheulean Lower Paleolithic hand axes from Africa represent the first scientifically documented intelligent tool made by primitive humans.  Prior to these Saharan Acheulean handaxes, only crude pebble and flake tools existed in the human fossil record.

Coming from a unique private collection of a former German surveyor who found this hand axe while on a Saharan expedition in the 1960's, there is a back story of how we acquired this specimen.  For the last several decades, it resided in a very select private collection of ours, made up of the absolute best pieces we had ever come across in our career and travels.  Years ago, we made a deal with the original German collector and acquired about 12 of his BEST lifetime discoveries - the most incredible Saharan hand axes we had ever seen.  It's important to note that nearly ever stone tool coming from the Sahara was originally found by desert nomads who did not always take care of their finds, and usually damaged the tools as they transported them to market.  On the contrary, this small group of hand axes we acquired, came from the original German expedition explorer who carefully wrapped each magnificent find to protect from any transportation damage.  Despite them being the most amazing examples we have seen in workmanship and type, they have NONE of the customary modern nicks or damage that most stone tools have coming from the Sahara.  We have greatly enjoyed these masterpieces but now it is time to pass on these treasures to another steward.

This hand axe is classified as a SUB TRIANGULAR BIFACE.  This shape type is very rare.  Adding to the unique features, the hand axe was flaked from an extremely dramatic golden puddingstone conglomerate.  The close up images shows a multitude of pebble inclusions.  It is also unusually large and robust in weight despite a very refined flaking workmanship rarely seen.  One side is mostly flat with very shallow flaking, creating an almost unifacial form.  This side lay face down while the curved other side remained exposed, for hundreds of thousands of years, allowing a 'desert varnish' natural gloss to form on the one side.  The other side is quite rounded and thick, retaining considerable weight to this large specimen.  The one flattened side allows for a very sharp knife-like cutting edge on both tapered sides to the tip.  The tip is original as made with a sharp cutting edge. A portion that was the original outer cortex of the stone rough from weathering, was ingeniously retained and oriented on the grip where the palm and fingers fall, ON BOTH SIDES!  This would have greatly improved the grip while in use as the hand axe would have become slippery with fat and blood when butchering a large hunted game animal.  An angled grip allows the symmetrical triangular form and point to remain perfectly perpendicular to the palm, an intended design so that when the hand axe was striking downward, the tip was exactly in the center of the striking force.  These are indicators the primitive human creator of this hand axe was intelligent and capable of not only well-thought out design, but was also skilled in executing the design from the concept in mind, to the finished stone!

This finest collector specimen boasts of the most perfect shape for a sub triangular hand axe type.  The workmanship goes way beyond normal utility need, indicating the intended purpose of this example was one of art, prestige and display.  This beautiful and unique puddingstone specimen represents the finest form and highest level of skill executed in a Lower Paleolithic Acheulean hand axe.  The level of care that went into the flaking and shaping, including the unusually sharp pointed tip that remains unused and undamaged, offers an idea that early humans appreciated art and made some stone tools to a level that was far beyond what was needed in everyday utility.  This exceptional specimen was most likely viewed as a work of art and prized in its time over a million years ago, as much as it would be prized today in the most advanced collections. 

Some scientists theorize that Stone Age hand axes like this, that were made well beyond what was needed for everyday use, were the earliest form of art, flaked by master toolmakers to a degree that conveys prestige, status and achievement.  Seeing this specimen certainly supports that claim.

Original sediment and mineral encrustations are still present in microscopic crevices and on some surfaces - a trait ONLY found in authentic Paleolithic artifacts like these.  These features are a testament to the age and authenticity of ALL Saharan Paleolithic artifacts. 

The finest Lower Paleolithic hand axes often move from one private collection to the next as many discovery sites are now destroyed, built over or protected.  In past decades, European auctions have routinely set records for the highest prices realized on spectacular examples of prehistoric European Stone Age artifacts like this, often likening them to the earliest forms of human-created art.  Fine specimens are so few in number while the buyer market continues to expand and chase after the best material, with no apparent price ceiling in sight.  Nevertheless, the prices STILL, are a paltry comparison to much of the more mature rare collectibles on the market and Paleolithic artifact prices still really don't reflect the substantially HIGH rarity of these artifacts.  As ever-increasing buyer demand continues to pursue the best pieces, the actual limited quantity of this material is sobering, and we are likely to see prices easily rise ten-fold on top-grade specimens, in the near coming years.  The words "undervalued" and "collectible" are seldom found together in today's world but the realm of European and African Paleolithic artifacts is one where you can still find an emerging market and one of the greatest promises for future investment. 

HISTORY

During this time in prehistory when this Lower Paleolithic tool was made, the Sahara Desert (where this stone tool was found) was a savanna rich in wildlife.  Prior to the prehistoric global warming that turned the vast region to desert, early humans lived alongside prehistoric giraffe, bison and elephant, which were vital to their survival.  Hunting and butchering these animals would have required specialized tools such as those found in the Acheulian Period.