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INTACT SMALL STONE GRINDING BASIN WITH CONSIDERABLE WEAR FROM THE AFRICAN NEOLITHIC PERIOD Exposed Saharan Site - Algeria, North Africa NORTHWEST AFRICAN NEOLITHIC PERIOD (CAPSIAN TRADITION): 8,500 - 6,500 years ago This CAPSIAN TRADITION Neolithic artifact was found on an exposed African Neolithic site in the Sahara Desert in Mali, Northwest Africa. It was fashioned by ancient man (Homo sapiens sapiens) between 8,500 and 6,500 years ago. This is a RARE compact stone grinding basin likely used for crushing pigments for body painting, pottery decoration, art, etc.., or mixing medicines as it is too small to grind grain like the typical larger basins. It is in perfect preservation, is complete and with original extreme use wear in the center from repeated grinding. It is made from quartzite and shows wonderful wind erosion from extreme long-term exposure to the desert environment and sand. This is the first small grinding basin we have offered that was used for tasks other than typical food production. This specimen would compliment a collection of tools and weapons demonstrating all aspects of this life and culture. Perfect with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. Beware of fakes as many of these types of Saharan artifacts dominate the market now and are made so convincingly real that all but the most trained eye is fooled. 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. A SCARCE ARTIFACT FOR COLLECTIONS OF THIS PERIOD - POSSIBLY FOR GRINDING PIGMENT OR MEDICINES 5.25" x 3.65" overall $375 CAP116 Actual Item - One Only |
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