A GROUP OF SIX NEOLITHIC STONE AXES

CIRCA 5TH-3RD MILLENIUM B.C.

Details

A GROUP OF SIX NEOLITHIC STONE AXES
circa 5th-3rd millenium b.c.
Four axes carved from both sides with a large aperture below the roughly finished butt-end, flaring towards the curved and tapered cutting edges, and two stone adzes of rectangular block shape with stepped-down tapering shaft, the cutting edge wedge-shaped, the stones ranging from milky pale moss-grey green to dark slate grey, purple and mottled beige, and grey with amber veining, traces from burial
from 6¼ in. (16 cm.) to 4 in. (10 cm.) wide (6)

Lot Essay

Both types of ceremonial adzes (ben) and axes (fu) are generally attributed to late southern neolithic cultures, and in particular to the Liangzhu culture (circa 3300-2250 B.C.). Compare a similar adze illustrated, Royal Academy, The Genius of China, London, 1973, p.55, no.44; and similar axes excavated at Xuejiagang in Anhui province, Kaogu Xuebao, 1982, p.309, no.3.

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