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MACRO-PHOTOGRAPHY CLOSE-UP IMAGE BELOW SHOWS IRON AND MINERAL DEPOSITS EMBEDDED WITHIN THE SURFACE OF THE FLAKED REGIONS WHICH ARE PRESENT ONLY IN AUTHENTIC SPECIMENS
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COMPLETE AND INTACT EUROPEAN PEBBLE TOOL CHOPPER FROM FAMOUS FRENCH SITE River Terraces of Haute-Garonne, Southwest France LOWER PALEOLITHIC PERIOD: 800,000 - 400,000 years ago Of all the rare primitive human stone tools we could offer, pebble tools from the first humans to occupy Europe are perhaps the most rare. Unlike the Oldowan Gorge in Africa where pebble tools abound and in many cases lay clearly exposed, European sites are VERY rare and scattered since the pebble tool technology had already been superseded by the proliferation of Acheulian bifacial handaxes roughly three quarters of a million years earlier! Oddly enough, these two traditions were brought into Europe by Homo erectus moving north up from Africa. Both traditions existed for a limited time together at the beginning of human existence in Europe with pebble tool technology eventually giving way to more advanced traditions of core and flake tools. This magnificent PEBBLE CHOPPER comes from a famous Lower Paleolithic site in Southern France and was fashioned by Homo erectus in the Oldowan Tradition of pebble tool technology of the Lower Paleolithic Period. This chopping tool was made from a quartzite river cobble and was found where early humans once lived on the terraces of the Haute-Garonne river in Southwest France. Recent studies report extensive continual prehistoric habitation from the Early Lower Paleolithic to the Upper Paleolithic. The different ages are found in the different terraces and layers (see references below). This superb and intact, complete specimen comes from this site and exhibits technology dating from approximately 800,000 to over 300,000 years ago and was manufactured by some of the first humans to migrate into Europe from Africa. This is an exceptional specimen from this southern French Lower Paleolithic site of world study and importance. Like all pebble choppers, it is simple made on a river cobble where a chopping end was struck at an angle to create a cutting edge. Asymmetrical natural proximal end was oriented to allow the index finger to rest on one edge for a better grip. Chopping end is intact and complete as made with a multi-struck edge to shape a slightly curved cleaver end. Microscopic examination (and above close-up image) shows evidence ONLY found in authentic Paleolithic specimens - embedded mineral and substrate deposits deep into the surface with no modern flaking or crushing of the stone surface where flaked. Feel, form and function of this tool is superb. Decommissioned recently from a private museum with original collection label still in place. NO MODERN DAMAGE, NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. 'As found' condition and with our highest recommendation. WARNING: Occasionally these "tools" can be found for sale on the internet and at shows. The majority are nothing more than damaged ancient river cobbles caused by environmental action (glacial disturbance, frost damage, etc.) as well as plow damage since these are found in farm land. Every broken cobblestone found on the Haute-Garonne terraces is NOT a human-created Paleolithic tool! The determination of what is manmade and what is an ordinary broken river rock requires a very high level of understanding Paleolithic tool manufacture and technique as well as the experience to be able to differentiate the two and authenticate a genuine stone tool from this culture. If in doubt, consult a scientific expert. Recent research indicates the first hominids in Europe migrated north from Africa some time around 1.2 million years ago. These first humans were Homo erectus. Most of these sites were located alongside rivers or lakes where stone tools are found alongside tool debris and evidence of camp habitation and butchering of prey such as large mammals. The tools of this time were very primitive having been fashioned by striking river cobbles to produce a crude chopping tool. Sometimes, the flakes were used to make scrapers and points. The primary source of food was the meat of big game hunted in the region such as bison, horse and mammoth. The early technology of pebble tools coexisted up to 400,000 years ago in Europe with biface axes of the Acheulian tradition. The more advanced bifaces were flaked all over and created a much more portable and defined tool. It is still not fully understood why such a primitive tool technology such as the Oldowan tradition was brought into Europe for the Acheulian bifacial tools proliferated Africa well before the migration of humans northward. References: 1. Le paléolithique inférieur et moyen en Midi toulousain : nouvelles données et perspectives de l’archéologie préventive (Bruxelles et al., 2003); 2. The Acheulian of Western Europe (Manuel Santonja and Paola Villa) SUPERB AND INTACT EUROPEAN LOWER PALEOLITHIC HANDAXE FROM THIS FAMOUS SITE - COMPLETE WITH INTACT CUTTING END 3.4" x 3.2" $495 PB076 Actual Item - One Only |
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