Neolithic flint sickle from Denmark
€530
available
Object number
AR3508-02
| Object: |
Neolithic flint sickle
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| Material: |
Brown flint.
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| Period: |
2400 BC to 1800 BC. Last phase of the Northern European Neolithic. |
| Description: |
Danish sickle made of beautiful brown flint. The blade is crescent shaped, one side convex the other side straight. The blade is sharp and made of countless flat chips.
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| Background: |
Many types of crescent-shaped flint sickles occur towards the end of the Neolithic Period. They are based on early copper and bronze prototypes. At first, they were interpreted as saws by archaeologists. Now it is clear they were mounted with the convex side in curved sticks and used as sickles. When the blade became damaged and dull the precious tools were resharped. By that process the blade became increasingly concave and asymmetrical. This piece was appearently not much in use since the edge is still straight. It is remarkable how this tool represents an intermediate state within the radical transition from Neolithic to Bronze Age. |
| Dimensions: |
12.1cm long.
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| Condition: |
Small chips on the body, and one tip is broken off and missing. Cutting edge very nice and finely finished. Overall good condition.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2022 on the French art market. Previously in the French private collection Lepage. Acquired between 1975 and 1989 at an art auction. The stone tool is assumed to be of Danish origin.
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| References: |
Cf. P. V. Glob, Danske Oldsager II. Yngre Stenalder, no. 591. Cf. Jeg ser pa oldsager, pp. 134f, no. 317. Cf. Petersen, Flint fra Danmarks oldtid, pp. 138f, no. 248. |
| Literature: |
P. V. Glob's classical book Danske Oldsager II. Yngre Stenalder gives a comprehensive overview on the Northern European New Stone Age.
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| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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