Homo Erectus Acheulean Bifacial Hand Axe North 2024 Africa Lower Paleolithic Minimum 1,200,000 to 500,000 years old

This large Acheulean hand axe measures over 4 1/2 inches in length, over 3 inches at the widest, and nearly 1 inches deep; the stone a hard jasper. This handaxe may have been fashioned by Homo Ergaster (African Homo Erectus) in the iconic teardrop shape. Acheulean hand axes (sometimes spelled Acheulian and referred to as Acheulean bifaces) are large chipped stone objects which represent the oldest, most common, and longest-used formally-shaped working tool ever made by human beings (that is, members of the hominin family). Hand axes were first made about 1.76 million years ago, as part of the Acheulean tradition toolkit of the Lower Paleolithic (a.k.a. Early Stone Age), and they were used into the beginning of the Middle Paleolithic (Middle Stone Age) period, about 300,000-200,000. Hand axes are large stone cobbles which have been roughly worked on both sides ("bifacially worked") into a wide variety of shapes: lanceolate (narrow and thin), ovate (flatly oval), orbiculate (close to circular), or something in between. Some are pointed, or at least relatively pointy on one end, and some of those pointy ends are quite tapered. Some hand axes are triangular in cross-section, some are flat: in fact, there is considerable variability within the category. Early hand axes, those made before about 450,000 years ago, are simpler than the later ones, which evidence finer flaking. The Acheulean hand axe is named after the St. Acheul archaeological site in France where the tools were first identified 150 years ago. This axe has been on the surface for some time, and shows the effects of the environment. The earliest Acheulean hand axe yet found is from the Kokiselei 4 site in the Rift valley of Kenya, dated about 1.76 million years ago. The earliest hand axe technology outside of Africa was identified at two cave sites in Spain, Solana del Zamborino, and Estrecho del Quipar, dated about 900,000 years ago. Other early examples are from the Konso-Gardula site in Ethiopia, Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, and Sterkfontein in South Africa. Early hand axes have been associated with our hominid ancestor Homo erectus in Africa and Europe. The later ones seem to be associated with both H. erectus and H. heidelbergensis. Several hundred thousand hand axes have been recorded from the Old World, including Africa, Europe, and Asia. Archaeologists have always assumed that the ability to make Acheulean hand axes was culturally transmitted--that means taught from generation to generation and tribe to tribe. Some scholars (Corbey and colleagues, Lycett and colleagues) are beginning to suggest that hand axes were not, in fact, solely culturally transmitted, but rather were at least partly genetic artifacts. That is to say, that H. erectus and H. heidelbergensis were at least 2024 partly hard-wired to produce the hand axe shape, and that the changes seen in the late Acheulean period are the result of a shift from genetic transmission to increasing reliance on cultural learning. Acheulean stone tools have been found across the continent of Africa, save for the dense rain forest around the River Congo which is not thought to have been colonized by humans until later. It is thought that from Africa their use spread north and east to Asia: from Anatolia, through the Arabian Peninsula, across modern day Iran and Pakistan, and into India, and beyond. In Europe their users reached the Pannonian Basin and the western Mediterranean regions, modern day France, the Low Countries, western Germany, and southern and central Britain. Areas further north did not see human occupation until much later, due to glaciation. In Athirampakkam at Chennai in Tamil Nadu the Acheulean age started at 1.51 mya and it is also prior than North India and Europe. Acheulean technology is best characterized by its distinctive stone hand axes. These hand axes are pear shaped, teardrop shaped, or rounded in outline, usually 12–20 cm long and flaked over at least part of the surface of each side (bifacial). There is considerable variation in size and quality of workmanship.

Acheulean hand axes were multi-purpose tools used in a variety of tasks. Studies of surface-wear patterns reveal the uses of the hand axe included the butchering and skinning of game, digging in soil, and cutting wood or other plant materials. Additionally, Acheulean tools are sometimes found with animal bones that show signs of having been butchered. This axe comes from Northern Africa. The lighter color shows exposure to the desert sun, and testifies to the age of this wonderful piece. Note the very small historic chip in the blade that exposes the core; this allows us to see the depth of the weathering and exposure. Due to the length of time these were manufactured and the large quantities that these are found (I have read that in North African kill and butchering sites you can load the back of a pick up truck with these axes) they are available to us at reasonable prices. As with all my antiquities this axe comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and lifetime money back guarantee!!