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Product Description
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.
SEE MORE LOWER PALEOLITHIC ACHEULEAN STONE ARTIFACTS
This superb European Acheulean flint bifacial hand axe was fashioned by Homo heidelbergensis, the first humans (Homo erectus) to occupy Europe. Found in Champion, Namur, Belgium, it dates from 850,000 to 350,000 years ago, in the Acheulean Tool Tradition of the Lower Paleolithic, and was the predominant tool technology of the Homo erectus people in Europe at the time. The flint has patinated a stunning ivory white over the original dark gray of the stone. An intriguing feature is that this hand axe was later re-used in either the Late Acheulean, or early Mousterian (Neanderthals), as seen by a few darker flakes to sharpen the edge. These flakes are not modern but are prehistoric in nature as they show the flint starting to lighten and mineral deposits in all their micro-crevices.
European Lower Paleolithic Acheulean hand axes rarely make it out of European private collections as they are highly prized with quality specimens like this being scarce. This hand axe features exceptional workmanship with masterfully executed flaking on both sides, as well as the highly intelligent use of the natural flint nodule form to form an ergonomic hand grip. This grip must be held to be fully appreciated. The tip and cutting edges are still sharp and the tip slightly pointed as originally made with all original flaking and features perfectly preserved and intact. An incredible soil sheen from burial, has created a mesmerizing luster to the surface, highlighting the remarkable, highly-skill flaking workmanship throughout. No doubt this was a cherished object of art and utility to its primitive human maker as much as it would be prized by a collector, today.
From a very old former Belgian collection. Digging for new specimens has been forbidden for quite a long time with most of the best specimens being found in the first half of the last century. Finding an exquisite piece like this ONLY comes from coveted old collections in Europe and hand axes like this usually move from one collection to the next in private collector circles, rarely making it out of the country. Very highly recommended! No Paleolithic collection should be without representative tools of Europe's first humans!
Fine quality European Acheulean tools are infinitely more rare than their Saharan counterparts, and often move from one private collection to the next as many sites are now destroyed, built over or protected. In the past decades, European auctions have routinely set records for the highest prices realized on spectacular examples of Prehistoric European stone tools like this. Finest grade specimens are so few in number while the buyer market continues to expand and chase after the best material with no apparent price ceiling in sight. Nevertheless, the prices STILL, are a paltry comparison to much of the more mature rare collectibles on the market and Paleolithic artifact prices still really don't reflect the substantially higher rarity of these artifacts. As ever-increasing buyer demand continues to pursue the best pieces, the actual number of this material is sobering and we are likely to see prices easily rise ten-fold on top-grade specimens, in the next several years. The words "undervalued" and "collectible" are seldom found together in today's world but the realm of European and African Paleolithic artifacts is one where you can still find an emerging market and one of the greatest promises for future investment.
This specimen possesses a fine prehistoric patina and mineral deposits. Such traits are missing in the fake tools being passed off as genuine tools by fraudulent and/or uninformed dealers selling in auctions, online, at shops and shows. The market is currently awash in fakes and ancient debris shards sold as genuine Paleolithic tools. Make sure you get an unconditional certificate of authenticity and know your dealer is knowledgeable AND informed.
