Rare Alternate Handaxe, Paleolithic, Lower Acheulian

 

Description

Type: almond shaped handaxe on pebble

Paleolithic Period, Industry: Lower Paleolithic, Lower Acheulian

Dating: in Europe still dated ca. 800 to 400 ka. But very recent archaeological research in Western Europe proved that the European continent has been conquested as early as 1,2 to 1,1 Myr. – Early Pleistocene (on request more information will be given to our customers)

Description:

• Size: length14,0 cm, width 10,0 cm, thickness 3,3 cm, weight 540 grams
• Shape, Retouch: an interesting and rare type of handaxe! It is made on a very flat pebble, the retouch at the edges is alternate, means, the flaking on both faces is made at the right edge. The tip is retouched on the first face entirely, on the other one half of the tip is trimmed. Flake scars are mainly broad, only few on each side. From a technological point of view it is a very typical Lower Acheulian handaxe: it presents only the most necessary retouch to obtain a useable tool
• Raw-material: a pebble out of gray-green quartzite, the most common raw material on the Garonne terraces
• Preservation: very well: the surface of the retouch is somewhat weathered, but flake scars are well define. As far as can be seen no recent damages

Additional Information, Literature: The pebble tools found on the high gravel terraces of the Garonne, Tarn and Aveyron river are among the earliest tools found in Europe. Lit: A. Tavoso, Le Paléolithique supérieur et moyen du Haut-Languedoc, Paris 1978.

Origin, Site: high gravel terrace of the Garonne, south of Toulouse, southern France

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Shipping costs: we ship internationally (worldwide). Buyer pays actual shipping charges, no handling fee. Above mentioned rate, $ 21.80, is for 1000 grams (more can be packed) registered air-mail from Germany to USA and most other overseas destinations. Shipping costs within Europe are Euro 8.05 / $ 12.50 registered air-mail. We combine items to save on shipping costs! Details will be settled with the buyer individually.

About us: we are no traders, but we are selling only out of the own old collection. We guarantee for authenticity of our artifacts. On request we inform high bidders about provenance of the artifacts and we provide additional site information and dating (if available), taken from scientific literature.