M345 - EXTENSIVELY USED MOUSTERIAN NEANDERTHAL BURIN GRAVER FLAKE TOOL FROM LE MOUSTIER TYPE SITE IN FRANCE

Product Description

ID

Mousterian Tool

FOUND

Rock Shelter - Le Moustier Site,
Dordogne, France

AGE

MOUSTERIAN:  80,000 - 40,000 years

SIZE

2" long

CONDITION

INTACT AND COMPLETE.  HEAVY USE
AND RE-USE ON TIP.  NO REPAIR OR
RESTORATION.  

NOTE

VALUABLE SPECIMEN FROM THE
ORIGINAL NEANDERTHAL TYPE-SITE
WHERE THE TERM "MOUSTERIAN"
WAS DERIVED.

A TOOL WITH OBVIOUS EVIDENCE
OF HEAVY NEANDERTHAL USE AND 
RE-USE

INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX - Actual Item - One Only

Comes with a certificate of 
authenticity / information sheet

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOUSTERIAN TOOLS

This is a RARE Neanderthal flint tool classified as a GRAVER (BURIN).  It is especially desirable for two reasons - it comes from the original Neanderthal tool technology type-site, Le Moustier.  It also shows spectacular evidence of EXTENSIVE prehistoric use with a heavily worn tip displaying evidence of MULTIPLE strikes to re-sharpen by its former Neanderthal owner.  Known more typically from the Upper Paleolithic Period in Europe, the burin was a flake tool used to engrave various materials.  It would have been used in the famous prehistoric art engravings and carvings known in antler, bone and ivory.  Less common in the earlier Mousterian Period, gravers with burin strikes start to appear in the late Mousterian Era.  

This is one of those examples and the cutting edge / tip is used up with signs of extensive use and re-sharpening in antiquity.  You can see numerous prismatic faces where multiple strikes were made on the end to make a new tip.  This artifact is complete and shows a knapped depression just behind the cutting tip where the index finger would have applied pressure when the tool was used.  The extremely thick flake provided a long life of use by allowing enough flint to be re-sharpened repeatedly.  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 the most famous Neanderthal site!  NO RESTORATION, REPAIR OR MODERN DAMAGE.  Original collection label still intact on back side.

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.