Neolithic Stone, set of 8 Hand axe - 100 mm

These tools correspond to the type of sausage-shaped polished axes (or axes with an oval/elliptical cross-section), major characteristics of the Saharan Neolithic.

Unlike European axes which are often flat or stocky, those from the Sahara frequently exhibit this elongated cylindrical and rounded form, without a clearly marked flat edge, adapted to a specific hafting. This morphological type is found in the collections from the Ténéré and the Niger–Chadian region.

Materials and Geology
The diversity of rocks is typical of Saharan productions that exploited local resources:
Basalt and dolerite Sandstone or quartzite Granite

Multipurpose tools: These sausage-shaped axes mainly served for woodwork (felling, debarking), but also potentially as pestles or rollers for grinding vegetation, a dual function attested in the Niger–Chadian Neolithic.

Period: This type of tool is associated with the humid Saharan Neolithic, generally dated between 8,000 and 3,000 BCE (even up to 2,000 BCE in certain regions like the Ténéré), a period during which the Sahara was a savanna inhabited by herders and hunter-gatherers.

Desert patina: The uniform gray color and the matte appearance of certain faces attest to long exposure to the desert wind-blown sand (aeolian patination).

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