SUPERB LARGE AND BROAD GOLD FLINT NEANDERTHAL MOUSTERIAN SPEARHEAD LEVALLOIS POINT FROM FRANCE *M493

Product Description

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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.

Made by a Neanderthal toolmaker between 160,000 and 40,000 years ago, this is an exceptional Levallois point Neanderthal Spearhead made in the beautiful reddish gold flint famous for where it was found in La Fontaine, France, in the region of Loir-et-Cher.  It shows masterful workmanship with classic Levallois technique and form.  The prehistoric secondary retouch flaking by the tip and down the sides, shows it was used and re-sharpened by a former Neanderthal hunter.  The broad profile of the point allowed two things - 1) it achieved a very wide cutting edge to inflict an enormous wound, and 2) it created a "shoulder" by which the point could have been securely lashed to a wooden pole.  The concave flaked areas near the base are further evidence of this as these areas aided this spearhead to be hafted with sinew cord.  The tip is intact and exhibits actual use wear, and the entire point is complete, and as originally made.  Surface shows prehistoric patina and mineral deposits still embedded in the hinge fractures - irrefutable evidence of an authentic specimen. 

As Neanderthals hunted large game such as Woolly Mammoth, Woolly Rhinoceros, Bison, Horse, Aurochs, and Megaloceros, they also needed an effective weapon to protect themselves from Cave Bear, Cave Hyena, Cave Lion, and most likely, each other!  Such a massive projectile point as this would have been a requirement to take down the largest and most deadly beasts of their day!  The large size and perfectly oriented pronounced central rib for strength, allowed this point to survive the penetration of a thick hairy hide, and be driven deep to reach a vital organ.

Levallois and Mousterian points are theorized to have been used as spearheads mounted on the ends of wooden poles, and employed to stab large prey by Neanderthal hunters.  By this time, humans had not yet invented the bow and arrow but intact Neanderthal wooden spears have been scientifically documented in situ.  The Mousterian Point or Levallois Point would be humanity's first spearhead, and the precursor to the arrowhead!  Lashed to a wooden pole, it was a milestone invention of a new weapon for hunting large game.  Now, the megafauna of the day could be hunted with greater success.  Such a weapon would have also given prehistoric humans a more effective weapon against each other.

Found in one of the most iconic regions of 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 Point came from a very old French collection as is the case with all the best material being stashed for decades and decades in private collections of yesteryear when collecting was possible.  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.