British Stone Age Knapped Flint Axe

A finely made and complete early fine Senonian or Danian flint dagger belonging to the Danish Single Grave Culture (Dolktid), a slender lanceolate outline with near-parallel sides, a discreetly indicated hafting zone, and the maximum width placed at or just ahead of the midsection. 66 grams, 18.3 cm



Found Ordrup, Sjaelland Island, Denmark, 1970. From the private collection of amateur archaeologist Jorgen Faxholm, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous catalogue sheet with reference.

This dagger shows the characteristic manufacturing traits of the earliest dagger horizon. There is no polishing or parallel-struck flaking of the later, more elaborate types. The maker relied on careful, even marginal retouch to create a sharp and functional cutting edge. The dagger appears to retain its original proportions with no evidence of later reworking or reduction. By the time Lomborg formalised the typology, approximately 540 examples of Type 1B were recorded from graves or intentional depositions, with a further circa 150 from unprovenanced contexts. This example sits squarely within that early corpus and represents the form at its best.

Mixed group including slender blade flakes and scapers, one with old inked catalogue numbers. 73 grams total, 40-79 mm



Found during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Faulker (1875-1963), and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental with the excavation works and pit dwellings at sites including Six Bells, Frensham, Tilford, Thursley and Bagshot, and Waverley, amongst others at and near Farnham in the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the material is now in the prestigious Farnham museum. The present part of the collection having been gifted to their good friend and Haselmere Parish Priest, Charles Borelli (c.1914-2000) of Farnham; who was part of the Borelli family from Italy who emigrated from Lake Como in 1828 to set up the Borelli family watch and jewellery business; thence by family descent to his nephew.

Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Flint mining was also carried out by the Neolithic folk. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of the Neolithic flint work.

With rounded butt and broad edge, much cortex to the body; made by Homo heidelbergensis from a cobble to form an effective chopping edge; old inked legend 'La Vienne Indre et Loire EU3A0020'. 575 grams, 12.8 cm



From La Vienne, Indre et Loire, France. From the collection of J Sherman. Acquired on the art market. From a private collection.