|
|
|
ULTRA RARE MASSIVE SAHARAN ACHEULIAN FLAKE TOOL MADE BY HOMO ERGASTER (ERECTUS) Exposed Site - Algerian Sahara Desert, North Africa LOWER PALEOLITHIC PERIOD (ACHEULIAN): 1.2 million - 500,000 years ago This rare 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 Northern 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. Very seldom seen in private collections, a tool this type is extremely rare. Furthermore, it is one of the largest FLAKE TOOLS we have encountered from this region. It is a convergent flake scraper (not a handaxe) from the Sahara and was masterfully fashioned out of quartzite. The bi-colored patina and exfoliation of its outer surface is a testament to the hundreds of thousands of years it lay in the desert. This tool spent considerable time exposed which resulted in a heavy and beautiful wind gloss as well as differing colors on each face. Extensive flaking on the edges is evident with one edge suitable for use as a large knife. Large bulb of percussion on the lighter colored side is better seen in person than what shows in the photos above. PERFECT WITH NO MODERN DAMAGE, NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. 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 in comparison to handaxes from the same period. This specimen was decommissioned from our private museum collection and will be the only one like it to be offered for sale. Acheulian flake tools (unlike handaxes) are almost never found in this size and most typically, measure no more than half the size of this giant example. Perfect for use in butchering the large game that thrived in Northern Africa during the days of Homo ergaster. 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. MASSIVE, ULTRA-RARE SPECIMEN! ACHEULIAN FLAKE TOOLS FROM AFRICA ARE SELDOM SEEN IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS AND CERTAINLY NEVER IN THIS SIZE - RARE EVEN FOR MUSEUM COLLECTIONS! 9.5" in length x 5.75" wide $1750 ACH-078 Actual Item - One Only |
|
1750 |
