Prehistoric Axe From The Mousterian Period—neanderthal Era, Argenteuil, 1876, Archaeology

A rare and interesting flint axe dating from the Mousterian period (approximately 350,000 to 35,000 BCE), the era of Neanderthals.

This piece is crafted from a grainy stone belonging to the sandstone family, featuring a beautiful yellowish hue. It attests to the skill of prehistoric humans in stoneworking and the manufacture of their earliest tools.

It features a particularly interesting detail: an old ink inscription, written in the 19th century in elegant calligraphy, reading:

“Celtic hatchet, found in Argenteuil in 1876”

While the attribution to the Celtic period—common in 19th-century antiquarian classifications—is now considered erroneous, the inscription nevertheless retains genuine historical significance. It attests to an early discovery, predating modern methods of prehistoric classification.

The place of origin is also noteworthy. Argenteuil, located in the present-day Val-d’Oise department (then the Seine-et-Oise department), was the site of archaeological research and discoveries related to prehistory, particularly during the 19th century.

This ancient inscription thus serves as a valuable record of the history of the discovery and collection of prehistoric objects, at a time when archaeological knowledge was still rapidly evolving.

The piece comes from a former Norman collection.

Dimensions: height 11.4 cm.

Price excludes shipping costs

Police Registry Ref.: A264

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