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RARE SAHARAN ACHEULIAN FLINT FLAKE SCRAPER MADE BY HOMO ERECTUS Exposed Site - Algerian Sahara Desert, North Africa LOWER PALEOLITHIC PERIOD (ACHEULIAN): 1.2 million - 500,000 years ago This rare and wonderful Saharan Acheulian flake tool was made and used by Homo ergaster (African Homo erectus). It was surface-collected from an exposed Acheulian site in the Algerian Sahara Desert of North Africa. This Lower Paleolithic tool represents the first intelligent design type known to science that was made by primitive humans. Prior to these Saharan Acheulian tools, only crude pebble tools existed in the human fossil record. First, we must say that a tool this type is extremely rare for several reasons and at the time of this listing, it is the only one we have or plan to offer of its type. FLAKE SCRAPERS from the SAHARAN ACHEULIAN are much more rare then their Saharan Acheulian HANDAXE counterparts. While handaxes are rather obvious in design and easy to therefore, recognize when collecting on a site, smaller flake tools have less obvious features at first glance and easily blend in with surrounding scrap flakes and natural stones. The vast majority of private collections lack Acheulian Saharan flake tools and even in our museum, we have a very small number in comparison to handaxes. Another rare feature of this scraper is that it is made of FLINT rather than quartzite, the dominant material used in this period and in the Sahara. It also seems that this period of human history, there was more emphasis on the use and refinement of handaxe design rather than flake tools and flake tools, when discovered, are almost always rather crude when compared to the efforts devoted to the manufacture of handaxes. That said, this specimen is a Saharan Acheulian flint flake tool manufactured of tabular flint. The patina is of one of the most pleasing colors we have ever encountered - a warm, rich salmon tone. This tool spent considerable time exposed which resulted in a heavy and beautiful wind gloss. Classic textbook direct hammer percussion can be seen used to shape and sharpen the cutting edge compared to the more refined secondary flaking of the MOUSTERIAN or ORANIAN/CAPSIAN periods. Some very minor damage in the form of a few minor chips but these could have been caused by natural forces as well as recent handling. Nevertheless, this is such a rare AND aesthetic masterpiece that this is inconsequential. INTACT with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. Display alongside a nice Saharan Acheulian handaxe for the ultimate in 'bragging rights"! You will be one of the few that have one. In Africa, the Acheulian Tradition is well-defined and most diverse when compared to other regions where it eventually spread to. HANDAXES are the most typical bifacial tool associated with this period. Different from the bifacial tools from the earlier Oldowan Period, Acheulian tools are fashioned from large flakes as opposed to using a whole cobblestone as the core. Along with handaxes, other bifacial tools that are Acheulian are CLEAVERS (large handaxes with a flat chopping edge) and PICKS (robust elongated, trihedral tools). Other stone implements found at Acheulian sites are small tools like NOTCHES, SCRAPERS and SPHEROIDS (round flaked stone balls). Most tools of this period were fashioned from basalt or quartzite. The actual function of handaxes is debated. Some suggest they were not used as a chopping tool but for butchering large game. Scientists have shown that these tools exhibit wear common to butchery uses and these tools have been found in association with prehistoric elephant bones on intact "kill sites" of this period. Other scientists have theorized they were thrown into a herd as a deadly spinning projectile. Probably the most interesting theory and one that explains why many unworn and pristine condition tools have been found abandoned is that of the tool's use not as a tool at all but as an aid to sexual attraction. Possibly, males used techniques of being able to fashion symmetrical stone axes to attract females and demonstrate they were the most capable individual for survival and support of a family. If you were a primitive human able to make a large symmetrical handaxe, this would show you were genetically superior and an excellent candidate for mating. There is much evidence that contradicts this theory but it sure is quite an interesting hypothesis. Based on the varieties of utilitarian handaxe designs, and not only obvious wear from use but actual well-thought flaking designs to best fit ones hand, there's really little doubt that these stone tools were relied upon on a daily basis for primitive man's existence. EX-PRIVATE MUSEUM COLLECTION - MESMERIZING SALMON PATINA IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL! VERY, VERY RARE AND SELDOM SEEN IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS - SAHARAN ACHEULIAN FLAKE TOOLS ARE MUCH LESS COMMON THAN THEIR HAND AXE COUNTERPARTS AND FLINT IS EVEN MORE RARE AS QUARTZITE WAS THE PREDOMINANT LITHIC! 2.9" in length SOLD ACH-024 Actual Item - One Only |
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