P010 – Palaeolithic / Mousterian Hand Axe / Large Scraper. (British Find)


Palaeolithic Stone Tools

The Palaeolithic is often divided into lower, middle and upper. British Isles: Humans probably first arrived in Britain around 800,000 BC. These early inhabitants had to cope with extreme environmental changes and they left Britain at least seven times when conditions became too bad.

The period lasted between 800,000 and 12,000 years ago which saw the end of the last Ice Age.

Very few sites of habitation are known.

The earliest is at Happisburgh (Pronounced Hazeboro) on the Norfolk coast and another is near the village of Boxgrove, just outside Chichester in West Sussex, which is 550,000 years old. 

Many of the Palaeolithic tools found in England have been found in river terrace gravels where they were deposited by the waters from rivers and melting glaciers.



Palaeolithic / Mousterian Hand Axe / Large Scraper.

Description – Made with a grey flint, this tool may have had a dual purpose, both as a hand axe and large scraper.

Provenance – Found in the River Ter Valley, near Chelmsford, Essex

Due to the size of this tool, it could have a dual purpose. It might be a late Palaeolithic Hand Axe or possibly even a large Mesolithic Scraper

Size – 11.5cm x 8.5cm

Weight – 82g
Age possibly greater than 100,000 – 10,000 years.

Found in February 2021

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