LARGE BRITISH NEOLITHIC FLINT AXEHEAD
UNITED KINGDOM, NEOLTHIC PERIOD, C. 3500 B.C.
African & Oceanic Art, Natural History and Ancient Art
Auction: 30 July 2025 from 14:00 BST
Description
knapped flint, of elongated oval form, bifacially-flaked roughout, sightly tapering butt and rounded cutting edge, unpolished, raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
33cm long
Provenance
Private collection, London, acquired on the UK market since 2000
Footnote
This substantial flint axe represents a Neolithic roughout from Britain, dating between circa 4000 - 2500 BC, likely quarried and partially shaped at sites such as Grimes Graves before final polishing elsewhere. Axes of this type were essential for Neolithic woodland clearance but also carried considerable symbolic value, sometimes circulating widely in trade networks.