Paleolithic Flint Hand axe, set of 6
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
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Set of 6 Paleolithic flint tools from the Yonne Valley in Burgundy, dating mainly to the Middle Paleolithic with Mousterian Neanderthal characteristics.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Here are six Paleolithic tools from the Yonne valley in Burgundy.
All of these tools are knapped from Cretaceous silex (gray, white, beige), characteristic of the geological formations of the lower Yonne valley. This type of silex was widely exploited by local prehistoric populations.
1 Grand flake / scraper (Flacy, 1911)
Size: ~17 cm × 8 cm (largest piece)
Dark gray with residual cortex
Visible marginal retouch → probable scraper or large retouched flake
Probable dating: Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian), associated with Neanderthal
2 — Laminar white/beige flake
Size: ~13 cm × 6 cm
Translucent white silex with well-marked conchoidal ripples
Elongated shape reminiscent of a blade or a large laminar flake
Partially preserved cortex on the platform
3 — Convex scraper (Flacy, 1911)
Size: ~10 cm × 6 cm
Light gray, regular retouch on a convex edge
Typical of the Mousterian (Middle Paleolithic)
4 — Small scraper / scraper-knife
Size: ~8 cm × 5 cm
Beige/gray, fine retouch
Possible domestic tool (hide processing, wood)
5 — Flake fragment (Tremblay)
Size: ~7 cm × 4 cm
White-gray silex, ancient break
Probably a debris piece or small tool
6 — Small retouched flake (Couy puits)
Size: ~7 cm × 3.5 cm
Light beige, irregular retouch
The region of the lower Yonne valley is documented for settlements from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic.
The overall morphology of these pieces (scrapers, large flakes, absence of fine Acheulean bifaces) suggests a predominant attribution to the Middle Paleolithic.
(~300,000 – 40,000 years): Mousterian, Neanderthal → scrapers, Mousterian points
The handwritten annotations visible on several silexes allow identification of several archaeological sites in the Yonne department, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté:
Location
Flacy (Yonne)
Vallée de la Vanne
Tremblay-en-Yonne
Lower Yonne valley Couy (Yonne)
Saône region? (Note: original says Région de Sens Sens-sur-Vanne Vallée de la Vanne)
Here are six Paleolithic tools from the Yonne valley in Burgundy.
All of these tools are knapped from Cretaceous silex (gray, white, beige), characteristic of the geological formations of the lower Yonne valley. This type of silex was widely exploited by local prehistoric populations.
1 Grand flake / scraper (Flacy, 1911)
Size: ~17 cm × 8 cm (largest piece)
Dark gray with residual cortex
Visible marginal retouch → probable scraper or large retouched flake
Probable dating: Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian), associated with Neanderthal
2 — Laminar white/beige flake
Size: ~13 cm × 6 cm
Translucent white silex with well-marked conchoidal ripples
Elongated shape reminiscent of a blade or a large laminar flake
Partially preserved cortex on the platform
3 — Convex scraper (Flacy, 1911)
Size: ~10 cm × 6 cm
Light gray, regular retouch on a convex edge
Typical of the Mousterian (Middle Paleolithic)
4 — Small scraper / scraper-knife
Size: ~8 cm × 5 cm
Beige/gray, fine retouch
Possible domestic tool (hide processing, wood)
5 — Flake fragment (Tremblay)
Size: ~7 cm × 4 cm
White-gray silex, ancient break
Probably a debris piece or small tool
6 — Small retouched flake (Couy puits)
Size: ~7 cm × 3.5 cm
Light beige, irregular retouch
The region of the lower Yonne valley is documented for settlements from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic.
The overall morphology of these pieces (scrapers, large flakes, absence of fine Acheulean bifaces) suggests a predominant attribution to the Middle Paleolithic.
(~300,000 – 40,000 years): Mousterian, Neanderthal → scrapers, Mousterian points
The handwritten annotations visible on several silexes allow identification of several archaeological sites in the Yonne department, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté:
Location
Flacy (Yonne)
Vallée de la Vanne
Tremblay-en-Yonne
Lower Yonne valley Couy (Yonne)
Saône region? (Note: original says Région de Sens Sens-sur-Vanne Vallée de la Vanne)
Details
Culture
Paleolithic
Century/timeframe
Paléolithique
Name of object
set of 6, Hand axe
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
1982
Material
Flint
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Previous owner - year acquired
1960
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
