*** SOLD *** “Livre de beurre” nucleus from Grand-Pressigny
3rd millenium B.C.
| Period: | 3rd – 4th millenium B.C. |
| Area: | Grand Pressigny (France) |
| Dimensions (mm) : | (H) 290 (L) 98 (P) 78 |
| Poids (g) : | 2281 |
| Condition : | Superb specimen. |
| Provenance : | Old french private collection (R.) |
Description
“Livre de beurre” nucleus have made the large reputation of the Grand-Pressigny (Indre-et-Loire) all over Europe. This had been called this way since the shape is very similar to one pound molded clumps of butter that were made by ancient farmers. Silex blades were extracted from the nucleus thanks to the Levallois method. That consists in preparing the nucleus so that when striking at the right place it detaches a long slightly curved and thin blade. The Grand-Pressigny’s site shows that this technique has been mastered in a way that it had been scaled up to a big industry with influence on a continental scale (research shows that some tools have been exported several thosands kilometers away of the site).
Our specimen is typical with two notched edges that make it sharp on all its length. We clearly see the negative of a debited blade of around 20 cm long and some cut off parts below (probably to better keep it on knees while knapping). Some cortex are still present. When checking closely this piece, one can wonder if these hadn’t been occasionally used as an axe or hammer.
