Neolithic/Bronze age flint Dagger - 15.8 cm

"Neolithic / Early Bronze Age Flint Dagger

Culture / Period: Neolithic / Early Bronze Age
Date / Period: c. 1700 B.C.
Material: Flint
Dimensions: 158 mm
Condition: Good condition. Stable old crack near the tip, as shown.

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 856

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the dagger from H.T. in Emmen.

The previous owner, H.T. from Emmen (The Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in The Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This finely worked flint dagger dates to the transition from the Late Neolithic into the Early Bronze Age, around 1700 B.C. Flint daggers represent some of the most accomplished achievements of prehistoric stone craftsmanship and continued to be produced even after bronze had become established in Europe. In many regions, they served not only as functional cutting implements but also as symbols of status and prestige.

The dagger has been carefully shaped from a high-quality flint blank using skilled pressure flaking, producing its characteristic elongated blade with finely worked edges and pointed tip. The craftsmanship required extensive experience and precise control, reflecting a long-established tradition of specialist flint knapping. Flint of suitable quality was widely traded, and finished daggers circulated across large parts of northwestern Europe.

Daggers of this type were likely carried by individuals of elevated social standing and could have been used for hunting, ceremonial activities, or as personal weapons. They are frequently associated with the emergence of increasingly stratified societies during the closing centuries of the Stone Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age.

This example provides a direct and tangible connection to prehistoric Europe, illustrating the remarkable level of technical skill achieved by Neolithic flint craftsmen and the enduring importance of finely made stone weapons during a period of profound cultural and technological change."