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RARE & PERFECT WHITE QUARTZITE ACHEULIAN PICK MADE BY HOMO ERGASTER (H. ERECTUS) Exposed Site - North Sahara Desert, North Africa LOWER PALEOLITHIC PERIOD (ACHEULIAN): 1.2 million - 500,000 years ago This rare and wonderful 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. First, we must say that a tool this type is extremely rare for several reasons and at the time of this listing, it is the only one we have or plan to offer of its type. FLAKE TOOLS 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 and even in our museum, we have a very small number in comparison to handaxes. As an exception to the rule that most Acheulian flake tools are hard to recognize from debris, this is an obvious tool by both appearance and especially when held to feel the flaked grip. Compared to simple scrapers, this is a PICK tool but it is not a pick handaxe. Unlike starting with a cobblestone and removing flakes to arrive at the core which becomes an axe, this tool was made from a struck flake. This specimen is a real gem as it was made from rare WHITE QUARTZITE! A thumb grip was flaked in one side of the proximal end for a perfect grip. Point it perfect, sharp and as made with no modern damage. The entire body of this piece is heavily worn from wind erosion having lain exposed for an extreme amount of time. A beautiful and rare compliment to any advanced Paleolithic tool collection and a RARE OFFERING! Holding this specimen in your hand is truly an impressive experience - to FEEL and experience the product of EARLY MAN intelligence! From our private museum collection and a one-of-a-kind offer. INTACT with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. 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. VERY, VERY RARE AND SELDOM SEEN IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS - SAHARAN ACHEULIAN FLAKE TOOLS ARE MUCH LESS COMMON THAN THEIR HAND AXE COUNTERPARTS AND THIS SPECIMEN IS PERFECT, WHITE, COMPLETE AND A RARE TOOL TYPE! 4.65" in length x 1.7" wide SOLD ACH-056 Actual Item - One Only |
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