RARE Finely Worked Hand Pick Artefact British Stone Age Tool Cornwall Genuine Lithic Find

Description

Rare Finely Worked Stone Age Hand Pick from Cornwall

This listing offers a rare finely worked Hand Pick Artefact, a genuine British Stone Age lithic tool discovered in Cornwall. Hand picks are significant prehistoric implements, used for digging, breaking ground, and working hard materials such as wood, bone, or antler. Their robust design and carefully shaped point reflect the ingenuity and adaptability of early communities who relied on such tools for survival in challenging environments.

This specimen, finely knapped and shaped from durable stone, represents both practical function and skilled craftsmanship. It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, and the photographs show the exact piece you will receive.

Tool Type and Function

The hand pick is a distinctive prehistoric tool, typically elongated with a strong, pointed end designed for heavy-duty work. This example has been finely worked to achieve sharpness and balance, making it versatile for multiple tasks. Such tools were likely used for digging out edible roots, breaking apart soil, quarrying raw materials, or shaping wood and bone into usable forms.

Unlike lighter arrowheads or scrapers, the hand pick was built for durability and strength. The carefully worked edges and tapering point reveal deliberate knapping techniques, ensuring that the tool could withstand repeated use without fracturing easily. Its form demonstrates the evolving sophistication of lithic technology during the Stone Age.

Geological Material

This artefact is made from Cornish lithic material, most likely flint or chert, both fine-grained silica-rich rocks ideal for prehistoric toolmaking. Their conchoidal fracture allowed toolmakers to remove flakes in a controlled manner, producing sharp edges and durable points.

The quality of the stone, combined with skilled craftsmanship, resulted in a tool that was both functional and long-lasting. The surface of this specimen still displays visible flake scars and retouching marks, evidence of the precision and control used in its creation.

Archaeological and Cultural Significance

Hand picks are generally associated with the Lower to Middle Stone Age (Palaeolithic to Mesolithic periods), when early humans and later hunter-gatherer groups required robust, multi-purpose tools for survival. While scrapers and arrowheads served more specialised roles, hand picks were indispensable heavy-duty implements.

In Cornwall, where prehistoric activity is widely recorded, tools like this highlight the adaptability of communities to local resources and environments. Such artefacts provide insight into daily subsistence strategies, showing how early peoples worked the land and materials around them to meet basic survival needs.

The finely worked nature of this specimen demonstrates not only function but also the skill and experience of its maker. Every strike and retouch contributed to shaping a practical yet enduring tool, offering us a direct connection to Britain’s earliest technological traditions.

Collector’s Information

• Artefact Type: Finely Worked Hand Pick Tool
• Cultural Period: British Stone Age (Palaeolithic to Mesolithic)
• Material: Flint/Chert lithic
• Origin: Cornwall, UK
• Provenance: Genuine prehistoric artefact
• Condition: Authentic, showing worked edges, flake scars, and tapered point
• Sizing: Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm. Full sizing visible in photographs.

Authenticity and Presentation

All of our artefacts are 100% genuine specimens and are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. Each has been hand-selected for its historical and archaeological value. The photographs provided display the actual specimen you will receive.

This Finely Worked Hand Pick Artefact is a rare and exceptional example of prehistoric craftsmanship. For collectors of lithics, students of archaeology, or enthusiasts of Britain’s ancient history, it is a remarkable opportunity to own a genuine Stone Age tool from Cornwall.