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Product Description
SEE MORE MOUSTERIAN NEANDERTHAL TOOLS
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.
This authentic stone tool was fashioned by Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic period, over 40,000 years ago. It is made of flint and was collected from a former Neanderthal occupation cave site in Caen, France. The site this specimen was found has long been closed to collecting and is protected by the government, making this Paleolithic 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, must come from old, private collections. The ever-increasing buyer market in pursuit of a very limited quantity of fine grade Old World Paleolithic artifacts continues to push values and prices up, as time goes on.
There is an interesting story about this small collection of Neanderthal flake tools we acquired from Caen, France. The original collector who found them was very inexperienced in recognizing Paleolithic flake tools. His lack of being able to discern regular stone from actual human-made tools resulted in him mostly picking up hand axes since they are more obviously flaked than flake tools. Of the flake tools he picked up, these had to be so amazing for him to know they were actual Paleolithic tools rather than debris flakes. Because of his ignorance, the flake tool collection was very small and only included the finest Mousterian Neanderthal flake tools, most being the absolute best we have ever seen from this region!
This is a Neanderthal flint flake tool classified as a HAFTED SIDE SCRAPER. It is complete with all its original flaking. This was the FINEST Neanderthal flake tool of the entire Caen, France collection! In every way, it is a true PRIZE example of advanced Neanderthal Mousterian technology where a normal scraper was adapted to have a reduced base so the tool can be lashed to a wooden, bone or ivory handle. Made on a exceptionally large core-struck flint flake, it features a large side cutting edge with shaping and workmanship far beyond what would have been required for a purely utilitarian tool. The beauty of this example is so fine that this tool was likely either a prestige piece or one owned by one of the most skilled Neanderthal toolmakers. The rich olive and mint green flint showcases the EXTRAORDINARY flaking workmanship! A lustrous soil sheen further highlights the absolute best flaking we have seen in a tool of this type. MASTERFUL secondary prehistoric retouch and shaping is evident on all edges including the square proximal end, perfectly shaped to affix this flake tool to a handle. All cutting edges are intact, showing use wear and evidence of original prehistoric re-sharpening. 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!
