An Acheulian,Lower Palaeolithic handaxe with quartz micro crystals. Circa 300,000 BC England.
This handaxe has been fully flaked on one side & on the edges. The opposing side is largely unworked & covered in cortex except for a few sharpening removals at the distal end - done to create a sharp working tip. All the flake removals have the same glossy blackish yellow patination colors & this is evidence of their hominid removal at the same time & in sequence.
There are two shallow micro quartz crystal lined cavities & these give the handaxe a mask like appearance., the quartz crystals sparkle as they catch the light. The hominid maker of this handaxe must have been aware of them & indeed they seem to have been centered so as to give the handaxe symmetry & its anthropomorphic semblance.
4.5 in/ 11 cm long