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ORANIAN/CAPSIAN THIN CHERT LIMACE SCRAPER Exposed Saharan Site - Mauritania, Northwest Africa NORTHWEST AFRICAN NEOLITHIC PERIOD (CAPSIAN): 8,500 - 6,500 years ago This CAPSIAN TRADITION tool was found on an exposed African Neolithic site in the Sahara Desert in Mali, Northwest Africa. It was masterfully fashioned by man (Homo sapiens sapiens) between 8,500 and 6,500 years ago. This type of tool is called a LIMACE. This is the first time we have offered this type of scraper. The word 'limace" is French for 'slug' which alludes to the fat worm shape of these primitive stone tools. This is a thinner than usual limace and features retouching on both sides as seen above. Nice patinated ivory-colored chert. In 'as found' condition with a minor more recent small nick on one edge but does not detract. A wonderful and unique offering! Perfect undamaged tools are very rare and small nicks are often caused by natural environmental factors such as displacement from wind and erosion tumbling. NO RESTORATION and NO REPAIR. In the final Pleistocene and early Holocene Periods around 10,000 years ago, the Sahara was believed to be 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 large fauna of animals flourished. 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 from the time from the end of the Pleistocene to the end of the Paleolithic Period, we see man relying more on meat from raised animals as opposed to hunted animals. At the end of the Pleistocene Period in North Africa, a blade industry developed called the CAPSIAN TRADITION. The Capsian industry runs simultaneously with the Oranian industry and began around 11,000 years ago (9,000 years ago in the Northwest region). This later tradition is responsible for the influence of the Oranian industry and eventually succeeds it at the close of Paleolithic Period, ushering in the Neolithic Age of stone tool manufacture in this region of Africa. Most notable during the era of the Capsian tradition is the proliferation of various blades and bladelets eventually leading to MICROLITHIC technology. Microliths are tiny flake blade tools and segments of blades that are used as they are or set in composite tools of wood or bone for use as barbs or to make saws. The various tools of the CAPSIAN TRADITION represent some of the most delicately flaked and beautifully executed smaller stone tools of man. By this time, the flaking methods utilize small punches for extreme control in the removal of material and shape of the blade being made. Some points were so perfectly executed that they were not used at all but served as items of prestige by their owner and are sometimes found in association with burials. These finest points and blades from this period rival any stone implement ever made by primitive man and were sometimes manufactured out of the most stunning gem-grade material such as fine translucent chalcedony and agate as well as transparent crystalline quartz. By this late age of lithic tool manufacture, stone implements have undergone man's development by both trial-and-error and cognitive thinking spanning an overall time exceeding one million years. FIRST TIME WE HAVE OFFERED SUCH A SCRAPER AND A CHOICE GRADE ONE, AT THAT! 2.75" in length SOLD ORCAP-039 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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