M338 - MOUSTERIAN NEANDERTHAL STONE TOOL SCRAPER MADE ON A LEVALLOIS FLAKE FROM FRANCE

Product Description

ID

Mousterian Tool

FOUND

Rock Shelter - La Faurie, France

AGE

MOUSTERIAN:  80,000 - 40,000 years ago

SIZE

2.65" long

CONDITION

INTACT AND COMPLETE - NO REPAIR OR
RESTORATION.  

NOTE

SUPERB SPECIMEN MADE ON A LARGE
LEVALLOIS FLAKE WITH WHITE PATINA
AND MINERALS FROM BURIAL!

INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX - Actual Item - One Only

Comes with a certificate of 
authenticity / information sheet

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOUSTERIAN TOOLS

This authentic stone tool was fashioned by Neanderthals over 40,000 years ago out of flint and collected from a former Neanderthal occupation site in France, considered to be the "Capitol of Prehistory".  The site this specimen was excavated from is now closed and protected by the government.  The fact that this archeological site is off-limits to any collecting, makes this wonderful stone tool 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 are most certain to continue to appreciate in value as time goes on.

This is a TOP GRADE Neanderthal flint tool classified as a LEVALLOIS FLAKE SCRAPER.  This is one of those examples and the cutting edge is perfectly formed with multiple burin-like strikes on the end.  This fantastic flake tool is complete with prehistoric evidence of use.  Knapped depressions on the Levallois flake would have been ideal finger grips, when held.  Present are 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!  NO RESTORATION, REPAIR OR MODERN DAMAGE.

The Levallois Technique is a method of flake tool manufacture that was first employed in the Acheulian Era about 250,000 years ago by archaic Homo sapiens but perfected in the Middle Paleolithic Era by Neanderthals.  It consists of starting with a core of stone and using heavy percussion hammering on one side to remove large flakes in a radial fashion, creating a "turtle-back" profile on one side of the core.  A single heavy blow at one end of the core struck the flake off and the end result was a prepared flake (a la Levallois) with a convex shape on one side (from initial flake removal when still attached to the core) and a flat side on the other (from the side split off the remaining core).  Edges of this struck flake were then retouched to create the desired cutting edge but the geometry of the two sides remained.  It was the Levallois method employed by Neanderthals to manufacture a variety of early tools including the first points that were hafted to wooden poles for use as spears.