Northern Europe, Denmark, Neolithic period, ca. 3900 to 1700 BCE. A chert adze whose broad surfaces have been smoothed and polished after the knapping process. The color is a beautiful mottled grey that, combined with the smooth surface, resembles a river rock. The polished adze is part of the technology that marked Neolithic life in northwestern Europe, alongside farming, pottery, and longhouses. They are often found inside of dolmens, large granite blocks that form tombs. This example is notable for the natural beauty of the stone that the artisan has brought out through their shaping and polishing - you can imagine someone selecting this exact stone and envisioning what it would look like once knapped. Size: 3.1" W x 10.2" H (7.9 cm x 25.9 cm)

Provenance: ex-G. Windfelder collection, Germany, 1980s

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#153488

Small losses around edges, notably around the narrower one. Rich deposits on surface. Overall nice preservation of form.