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RARE GREEN JASPER ACHEULIAN HANDAXE FROM TENERE REGION IN NIGER Tenere Region - Sahara Desert, Niger LOWER PALEOLITHIC PERIOD (ACHEULIAN): 1.2 million - 500,000 years ago This Saharan Acheulean handaxe was made and used by Homo ergaster (African Homo erectus). It was surface-collected from an exposed Acheulian site in the Tenere Region of the Central Sahara Desert of Africa. This Lower Paleolithic tool represents the first intelligent design type known to science that was made by primitive humans. Prior to these Saharan Acheulean tools, only crude pebble tools existed in the human fossil record. This is rare offering in both lithic type and location. The Tenere region of the Sahara is known for its gorgeous green jasper Neolithic period tools but sites producing Acheulian material are much less common. There we have a splendid specimen in the famous green jasper and made into a perfectly worked tri-hedral pick as can be seen from the cross-section above. This fine specimen was used up in prehistory to the limit that the tip was broken and never re-sharpened. The very heavy wind gloss and patina is not only a testament to its age but a testament to the prehistoric-dated damge on the tip which shows this same glossy, lustrous patina. The proximal end is masterfully crafted into a perfect hemi-sphere! There is a bi-color tone to the patina, as well with one side showing a rust red glow over the green jasper stone. Thi sis an excellent opportunity to acquire a handaxe that proves it was used and from a RARE stone material as well as an uncommon region for this period. In "as found" ORIGINAL condition with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. Very HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for a complete collection of regions and lithics used plus one that exhibits tools with PROOF of prehistoric usage! 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. SUPERB EXAMPLE MADE OF LESSER COMMON BANDED CHERT - UNCOMMON UNIFACIAL TURTLE-BACK DESIGN 4.5" in length SOLD ACH-092 Actual Item - One Only |
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