6500Y.O: UNIQUE NEOLITHIC ALPINE FORELAND AX ADZE STONE Start Price USD 100.00 Current Price USD 115.50 Time Left - Bid Count 2 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, August 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 31, 2008 Location Heidelberg See more about '6500Y.O: UNIQUE NEOLITHIC ALPINE FORELAND AX ADZE STONE' Description EUROPEAN STONE AGE ARTIFACTS BY PALATINA AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEED Description This unique Neolithic artifact is called " Angular ax adze of slate, with rectangular cross section " , belonging to the Middle Neolithic period of the very famous cultures from the Alpine foreland around the Lake Constance. Lake Constance is Germany's largest lake. Three countries share the lake: Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Lake Constance is the third largest lake in Central Europe. Through the lake flows River Rhine. During the 19th century, the lake-dwellings of the Alpine region emerged as one of the classic forms of well preserved archaeological monuments, in the same way as hillforts or shell middens. Their state of preservation and characteristics made them famous throughout Europe. Although a number of artefacts belonging to these lacustrine villages had already been found along some lakes within the Alpine region as early as the beginning of the 18th century, the lake-dwelling phenomenon was not recognised until Ober Meilen discovery in 1854. In the winter of 1853-54, due to a long drought and extreme cold, Alpine Lakes receded to their lowest recorded level exposing the remains of a prehistoric settlements. The discovery was made by a school teacher who promptly reported the fact to the Antiquarian Association at Zurich. The Ober Meilen prehistoric lacustrine dwelling was soon studied by the Swiss naturalist Ferdinand Keller who by the end of 1854 published a detailed site report. It was indeed with this publication that interest in the lake-dwellings began. The quest for lake-settlements rapidly spread around the entire Alpine region. By the turn of the century, hundreds of sites were discovered and a number of scholars had already begun to study them. The finds came to collections all over the world and were exhibited as precious things of a sunken period. One of the most discussed topics in studies of Alpine region lake-dwellings is their chronology and continuity. Although lacustrine settlements started to appear around the Alps in the Neolithic, and disappeared permanently at the beginning of the Iron Age, the lake shores were certainly not continuously settled. Phases of occupation alternated with phases of abandonment. This fantastic shaped adze is 142 mms long. Provenance is a an old German collection with finds from the area of Lake Constance. I guarantee absolutely for the authenticity of this artifact from the Middle European Stone Age. Any questions? palatina@online.de please view also my other auctions with relics from the European Prehistory. Powered by eBay Turbo ListerThe free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!