M386 - MULTI-COLORED JASPER NEANDERTHAL MOUSTERIAN KNIFE AND BLADE FLAKE TOOL SET FROM FONTMAURE FRANCE

Product Description

ID

Mousterian Tool

FOUND

Open Site - Fontmaure,
 (Vellèches), France

AGE

MOUSTERIAN:  80,000 - 40,000 years

SIZE

1.75" and 1.5" long

CONDITION

INTACT AND COMPLETE.
NO REPAIR, RESTORATION
OR MODERN DAMAGE.

NOTE

BEAUTIFULLY-COLORED PAIR OF
FLAKE KNIVES, ONE WITH 
DRILL POINT.  SPECTACULAR AND
COMPLETE "AS MADE" IN GEM 
JASPER.

FAMOUS OPEN AIR NEANDERTHAL
SITE.

INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX

Comes with a certificate of 
authenticity / information sheet

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOUSTERIAN TOOLS

This rare, beautiful stone tool set was fashioned by Neanderthals over 40,000 years ago out of gem-grade colorful jasper known to occur ONLY from Fontmaure, located in West Central France. The site this specimen was found is only approximately 1 acre in size and is now closed and protected by the government. This rare artifact was legally collected with the landowner's permission decades ago before the area was restricted by the French government, from collecting.  Fontmaure is one of Europe's most famous Neanderthal sites and the fact that this small unique prehistoric site is off-limits to any collecting, makes this wonderful stone tool artifact exceedingly rare and desirable!

Fashioned in multi-colored jasper that Fontmaure tools are famous for, this is a pair of beautiful Mousterian flake KNIVES, one with a BORER / DRILL end.  These flake artifacts would have been used to cut with one of the tools having a multi-purpose feature, also serving as an engraver or borer.  This point shows secondary retouch to form and resharpen the borer portion. 

Unlike inferior surface-collected specimens that occasionally are offered on the market, these artifacts were dug from the actual subterranean level that was once a Neanderthal occupation layer.  What this means is that it was not weathered and damaged by exposure to the elements or plow. In perfect, AS MADE condition with a rich natural soil sheen from long-term sediment burial.  Original minerals and patina deep in microscopic crevices and hinge fractures provide evidence of its prehistoric authenticity, traits not found in modern or altered copies.  Possibly a prestige tool, this is a beautiful, as well as rare Neanderthal artifact.  NO RESTORATION, REPAIR OR MODERN DAMAGE. Our fortunate purchase of a very old private Dutch collection allows us to offer this SCARCE Neanderthal artifact.

Out of the many archaeological sites in France containing Paleolithic objects, Fontmaure is one of the "Crown Jewels" of the period of the Neanderthals. This site is very small, spanning only approximately one acre. It gets its name from the neighboring farm where it is located. Artifacts from Fontmaure have been dated to at least 40,000 years old and are classified as from the Chatelperronian and Mousterian era, having been fashioned by the Neanderthal people. One of the unique published finds of Fontmaure is the very beautiful and unique jasper which is only found here and is primarily red and yellow. Many of the objects found in Fontmaure are made of this stone with other objects made of sandstone, flint and light gray quartz. This light gray quartz originates from a place that is situated about hundred kilometers from Fontmaure. Another unusual feature is that, to date, it is one of a few known open-air settlements. Even more interesting is the fact that along with the stone tools found, human and animal figures have also been excavated. There are also stones used in some type of ritual, such as triangular stones, round discs and stone balls (bolas) that have been discovered in Fontmaure. These art objects of the Neanderthals make up some of the oldest art known from Europe!  Today, we find the unusual, bright colors of the Fontmaure Neanderthal tools to be intriguingly beautiful and no doubt, the Neanderthals of prehistory coveted and prized these pieces, as well!