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Orange Quartzite Palaeolithic Hand Axe made by Early Humans

$4,000
£3,026.14
€3,536.60
CA$5,724.85
A$5,816.94
CHF 3,295.43
MX$70,777.80
NOK 38,642.09
SEK 38,852.62
DKK 26,455.82

About the Item

A large and beautifully preserved Lower Palaeolithic hand axe, masterfully knapped from rich orange-quartzite and bearing an old inscription recording its discovery at Choisy-au-Bac, France. This elegant bifacial tool is associated with Homo heidelbergensis, whose innovation of such stone axes marked a significant advance in early human development during the Lower Palaeolithic. By striking a flint nodule with a hammerstone, flakes were gradually removed, resulting in a refined, symmetrical form with razor-sharp edges. Part of the Acheulean tradition, which spanned well over a million years, this tool represents the longest-lasting technological tradition in human history. Particularly striking is the shiny silicaceous and encrusted patina, which formed over millennia of burial. Undoubtedly an aesthetic object, it is truly a sculpture in its own right. Provenance Choisy-au-Bac, Oise, France (according to inscription). Collection of Michel C. Vaes, Belgium, formed 1960s-90s. With EU Licence no. 2026 DMF 0436. Condition Please note that this item is a work of art and is thus exempt from US reciprocal tariffs. ArtAncient are dealers in rare wonders from the formation of the Solar System to late antiquity, discovering, studying and placing objects in extraordinary collections. Please contact us for more details on this piece.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8.08 in (20.5 cm)Width: 3.94 in (10 cm)Depth: 1.86 in (4.7 cm)
  • Style:
    Prehistoric (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Lower Palaeolithic, c.700,000 - 300,000 BC
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 436251stDibs: LU1052250209422

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