Fragment Of A Polished Neolithic Axe – Velaine Near Namur – 19th-century Collection

Fragment of a Neolithic polished axe, made of hard stone, carefully shaped and polished, measuring 8.8 cm in length and 6 cm in width.

The object is distinguished by the presence of an old collection label, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century, bearing the inscription: “Velaine, near Namur – Coll. J. H…”. This provenance most likely refers to a former Belgian scientific collection, possibly linked to Joseph Hamal-Nandrin (1873–1953), a leading figure in Belgian prehistory and a specialist in Neolithic stone tool industries.

The indicated provenance places the object in Velaine-sur-Sambre, an archaeological site known for its discoveries of flaked flint and polished axes, as well as for the former presence of a menhir that has since disappeared. This collection attests to a significant Neolithic occupation, integrated into the network of megalithic sites and flint-working workshops in the Namur region.

This fragment could thus constitute one of the rare material artifacts linked to this vanished site, serving both as a prehistoric archaeological relic and as an item from the first scientific collections assembled in the late 19th century. It is therefore of dual interest: archaeological, for the study of regional Neolithic artifacts, and historical, as a trace of the early documentation of the discoveries at Velaine.

A beautiful collector’s item, both understated and steeped in history.

Price does not include shipping costs

Police Registry Ref.: A122

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