CAPSIAN TRADITION AFRICAN NEOLITHIC COLLECTION

STONE CARVING

Ref #:  542

Type:  Carved Object

Material:  Hematite(?)

Period:  Capsian Tradition African Neolithic  8500 - 3000 years ago

Provenance:  Northwest Africa

Measurements:  7.7 cm x 3 cm x 1 cm

Comments:  There are differing opinions of the museum staff as to whether this is a human-made object or a stone randomly formed by nature.  Design strongly resembles female idol objects of other Neolithic Cultures in Eastern Europe, for instance.  See specimens 132, 118, 119. 

Extreme wind erosion reveals stone layers and extended exposure.  There are what seem to be grinding marks on the scalloped out cross-wise regions that run at a 90 degree axis contrary to the natural grain of the stone.  (see above photos)  The edges of the object in this region are curved.  The edges of the lower half of the object where it terminates to a point show are very flat and true surfaces with sharp, slightly beveled edges to the faces as a polished axe would possess.  This lower pointed portion has very obvious multiple flat faceted areas on the edge that are consistent with stone forming by grinding and polishing such as grinding a flat surface and repositioning the object thereby creating another crisp and flat ground facet.  These seemingly ground facet marks lack any consistency to the natural formation of this stone's physical structure.  Converging end on bottom comes to an extremely sharp and crisp blade-like point. 

Color, patina and SUPERFICIAL wind erosion is identical to ENTIRE surface but if this is a naturally formed object ruling out partial long-term burial to protect certain areas for crisper preservation then all edges would be worn equally.  Some edges are well rounded and others are very crisp and are not equally distributed like the patina, color and wind polish is.