Stone Age Thick-Butted Polished Axe Head

With a narrow tapering point and a rounded butt, possibly a replica. 18.7 grams, 85 mm



From a previous old English collection. From the private collection of a West Midlands lady collector; acquired from a UK auction house.

Including debitage and flakes, some with inked findspot e.g. 'Pit Dwelling Farnham', 'Blade Core, Moor Park'. 378 grams total, 32-89 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 yellow patina and some polished areas, a ceremonial blade of exceptional length, fashioned from high-quality chert with controlled percussion flaking and well-balanced symmetry. 193 grams, 26.3 cm



Acquired in 1977 by the archaeologist owner from a private collection in Ohio, USA.

Blades of this size exceed functional hunting requirements and belong to the class of oversized ritual pieces placed in high-status Adena mound burials. This spearpoint is a rare and impressive example of Early Woodland craftsmanship.