OUR FIRST TIME OFFERED - EXTREMELY RARE CAPSIAN AFRICAN NEOLITHIC PECKED STONE OIL FAT LAMP *CAP446

Product Description

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For the first time in our 35 year history, this is an extremely rare pecked stone oil fat lamp from the African Neolithic Capsian culture.  For the past 25 years, one of our primary focuses in ancient history has been the African Neolithic and in all that time, we have only encountered two authentic stone oil lamps, this being the better of the two.  Noted historical authority, Duncan Caldwell, author of the "Old World Typology and Price Guide" section of all the Overstreets Indian Arrowhead Guide publications, features a pecked stone Capsian lamp similar to this example, in the Overstreets 7the edition, page 1092.  In it, he emphasizes the extraordinary rarity of these objects.  In that guide dated all the way back to 2001, he appraises these amps from $850 - $1450, prices 25 years old!, giving some bearing of the scarcity to this under-priced, highly impressive specimen offered here.

Unlike small pecked stone grinding mills, this example has an offset handle and asymmetrical depression for the fat oil.  Dating to the early Capsian Neolithic, the 10,000 years that have passed in open desert exposure would have eliminated any trace of burnt organic substance often seen in ancient terracotta oil lamps of the ancient world, many thousands of years younger.  And in comparison to the prevalence of a large amount of ceramic oil lamps in the Ancient World, a fat lamp from the Neolithic is incomparably rare!  Again, this is only one of two examples we have ever handled!

Made of silicified sandstone, the bottom of the lamp shows a ring of prehistoric darker mineral deposits, with micro-crevices filled with ancient deposits on all surfaces.  No modern grinding or damage is visible - this extraordinary example is exactly as originally made!  Truly, a "holy grail" specimen for the most advanced collections.