THREE RARE GEM FANCY TENERIAN AFRICAN NEOLITHIC ARROWHEADS *CAP308

Product Description

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On a dinosaur fossil-hunting expedition in 2000 by a team of scientific explorers led by Paul Sereno, a paleodune and ancient lakebed site was discovered that yielded over 200 ancient burials of Kiffian and Tenerian people.  The scientific findings showed that this area was once a humid lake region that was home to a hunter-fisher-gatherer people.  The area became known as the "Green Sahara" for its once fertile and habitable landscape.  Noted paleontologist, Dr. Paul Sereno, famous for other Saharan dinosaur discoveries, shot into the archaeological spotlight with his discovery of the ancient lakebed cemetery at Gobero in Niger in the year 2000.  Interred in the many burials were numerous stone tools, ceramics, shells, beads and bone harpoons typical for the lifestyle of these ancient people of the Green Sahara.  This exceptional AUTHENTIC artifact is similar to the specimens found at Gobero.  It comes from the same period and Tenerian Neolithic Culture of that famous discovery. 

While arrowheads from the African Capsian Neolithic culture of the Northwestern Sahara are common, arrowheads from the Tenerian Culture are extremely rare.  In browsing internet offerings from a variety of sellers, we see an extraordinary amount of mislabeled specimens claiming to be Tenerian when their lithic and style is unmistakably Capsian.  Aside from scarce examples in lithics such as jasper or flint, the vast majority of true Tenerian projectile points are made of quartzite.  Because of this, they seem crudely worked but keep in mind the sheer difficulty in shaping quartzite on such a small scale.  It's virtually impossible to flake small objects such as arrowheads when you are working with quartzite so the crude shapes of Tenerian arrowheads are not a factor of poor skill but rather, a factor of the stone used.  

It is important to note that originally, Capsian Neolithic deposits could fill dozens of 5 gallon buckets whereas, Tenerian deposits of arrowheads are extremely limited and scarce.  Projectile points were never found in rich deposits like the Capsian Neolithic, making Tenerian projectile points immeasurably more rare!

This GEM set of three different typologies of arrowheads includes a gem red carnelian flared hollow base barb arrowhead, a golden flint broad wing barb arrowhead, and a white flint concave triangle arrowhead.  The red and golden examples are perfect as made with the white specimen missing very tiny tips to two of the three points in the design.  With the vast majority of Tenerian culture arrowheads being fashioned out of quartzite, finding true Tenerian specimens in gem quality lithics such as these not only is a rare treat but because the material was easier to flake, the ancient Tenerian craftsperson was able to impart more delicate features in the stone compared to the difficulties posed in working in quartzite.  This set is highly recommended for advanced collections as when we are sold out, they will be gone forever.  

We are very fortunate to have acquired an old French collection of these artifacts, years ago.  Nevertheless, we have a very limited amount and once sold, we most certainly will never be able to replace them.  Objects from the Tenerian African Neolithic culture are so rare that not even most major museums have a single object in their collection. 

HISTORY

The Earth has been warming and cooling for millions of year, well long before humans were on the planet.  One of the most dramatic examples of climatic change in the last 10,000 years is the desiccation of what is now the Sahara desert.  Prior to as recent as 3000 B.C., the South Central Sahara region in Africa was a humid lake savanna.  It was home to a thriving culture of ancient humans known as the Tenerians and before them, the Kiffians.  The occupation of this area by these two peoples occurred continuously from around 7700 B.C. to the drying of the Sahara in 2500 B.C.. 

In the final Pleistocene and early Holocene Periods around 10,000 years ago, the South Central Sahara Desert was once a highly favorable environment for hunters, gatherers and pastoralists.  Freshwater lakes existed between the dunes in what is now the Tenere region, Lake Chad was eight times its current size, the highlands supported Mediterranean forest trees, and a diverse variety of both large and small fauna flourished there.  The slow drying out process of the Sahara, began 7,000 years ago and ended 4500 years ago resulting in the barren conditions that exist to this day.  As we progress through time from the end of the Pleistocene towards the end of the Neolithic Period there, we see humans relying more on meat from raised animals as opposed to hunted animals that once roamed wild in the formerly Green Sahara.