Giant Handaxes Of The Palaeolithic

A recent study in the UK has been conducted around the rare phenomenon of giant Handaxes from the Palaeolithic (20cm + in length)

When they looked at the sizes of over 4000 English handaxes from the available sources recorded and in museums, only 42 (1%) of the total were over 22cm long. 13 handaxes were longer than 24cm.

The average size recorded was between 10 to 15cm. To create a "Giant" handaxe,  even in modern times is extremely difficult,  especially with a fine and thin Ficron.

Below is an example from the Ex Rainbird collection,  found at Surlingham, Norfolk (potentially mis-labelled and actually found at Keswick, Norfolk. There is records of a similar axe recorded with the Norwich Castle Museum.

To be able to hold and study the symmetry in the hand makes you wonder just how someone was able to make it circa 300,000 years ago!  When I hold it, the flint rings like an musical instrument, I am also scared to damage the fine thin cutting edges. It is a real testimony to our clever Ancestors.

Although this one is not for sale, we do have other giant Ficrons from England and also France which may be.