AFRICAN NEOLITHIC STONE MACEHEAD
TENERIAN CULTURE, CENTRAL SAHARA, C. 4TH – 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
Estimate: £300 - £500
Auction: 13 March 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
drilled and polished stone, of circular shape, with a central perforation, raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
15.6cm diameter
Provenance
Private collection, Belgium, formed late 1960s – present
Footnote
Distinctive stone rings often found in the Sahara are typically associated with the Tenerian culture. Dating to around 6,000 - 5,000 years before the present day, the Tenerian herded, hunted and cultivated crops beside great lakes amidst a savannah environment.
These rings, made of stone or occasionally other materials, are thought to have served as decorative or ritualistic objects, although their exact purpose remains a subject of debate among archaeologists.