Neolithic, 2800-2400 B.C. Flint Axe - 15.6 cm

"Neolithic Flint Axe

Culture / Period: Neolithic
Date / Period: c. 3500–2500 B.C.
Material: Flint
Dimensions: 156 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 857

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the axe 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 large flint axe dates to the Neolithic period, approximately 3500–2500 B.C., when polished and flaked stone axes formed some of the most important tools used by Europe’s first farming communities. Examples of this size were valued implements employed for woodworking, forest clearance, and the construction of houses, fences, and other essential structures.

The axe has been carefully shaped from a substantial flint nodule through skilled percussion flaking, producing a broad cutting edge and a robust body suitable for hafting in a wooden handle. Flint was highly prized for its ability to produce extremely sharp and durable cutting edges, and experienced knappers developed sophisticated techniques to manufacture tools of remarkable quality. High-quality flint and finished axes were traded over considerable distances, demonstrating extensive exchange networks between Neolithic communities.

Large flint axes played a central role in the agricultural transformation of prehistoric Europe. They enabled woodland to be cleared for cultivation and livestock, contributing directly to the establishment of permanent settlements and the development of farming societies. Besides their practical function, well-made examples also held value as prestige objects and were sometimes deposited as ritual offerings.

This piece forms a tangible connection to the Neolithic world, illustrating the advanced flint-working traditions and technological achievements of Europe’s first farming communities, in which finely crafted stone tools played an essential role in everyday life."