UNBROKEN RED STONE DRILLED RING FROM THE NEOLITHIC OF CAPSIAN TRADITION OF NW AFRICA *CAP464

Product Description

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This RARE Neolithic of Capsian Tradition stone carving artifact was found on an exposed northwest African Neolithic site in the Sahara Desert.  It was fashioned by Neolithic people living in what is now the Northwest Sahara, 8700 and 4,700 years ago.  Unlike the great prevalence of flaked stone tools, ground stone art objects were exceedingly more rare and especially, in complete unbroken condition as this remarkable specimen.  Made from red hardstone, this complete and unbroken stone drilled ring was either worn as is, or was a work-in-progress to finish into a smooth polished doughnut ring pendant.  It shows how stone was drilled in the Neolithic times with biconical drilling in its trait.  The outer perimeter displays rudimentary shaping by grinding with flattened areas worked on.  There is no modern grinding or alterations and all surfaces show excessive desert varnish and wind gloss from the exposed Sahara environment.  Furthermore, all microscopic crevices are filled with ancient mineral deposits, ruling this out as a modern or antique carved stone which most on the market are.  

Drilling, carving and polishing a stone object required a great deal more time and skill to make than knapping a flake tool.  This is why you see so few of these larger drilled carvings compared to crude small beads.  The intention of this object was likely to be a centerpiece jewelry focal point, or worn as a lone talisman pendant.  It was likely worn around with neck with a cord attached through the hole, and worn in its current state as is or to keep safe while time permitted it to be further worked on.  Ancient jewelry is rare and fascinating to study but Neolithic body adornment and jewelry is EXTREMELY RARE and offers a window into the creative mind of humans that lived many thousands of years ago before any ancient civilization!

Beware of modern forgeries lacking these features, or later Colonial trade beads being sold as "Neolithic".  Both dominate the market!  Authentic Neolithic stone pendants like these are very scarce.   

This is a classic artifact of African Neolithic of Capsian Tradition body adornment and ornamentation.  Beads and pendants were part of the main personal decoration of a Neolithic man or woman over 5000 years ago in Africa.  Completely durable and safe to wear for another 5000 years!  Archaeological sites of the African Neolithic yield some jewelry items and give us a glimpse of what body ornamentation and personal adornment looked like back in this period long ago.  Beads, lip plugs and bracelets are sometimes found.  Tools and weapons were an item of necessity but body jewelry reveals to us another side of the mind of primitive and ancient Man that the other artifacts do not give us.  Perfect to display alongside similar period tools and weapons to illustrate the larger picture of life in this time!