1697 Grays Inn first British handaxe
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1697 Grays Inn first British handaxe
Steel plate engraving with later tinting of a handaxe discovered near the bones of an elephant by John Conyers in London 1697. The illustration comes from John Evans seminal (1859) paper " On the occurrence of Flint Implements in undisturbed beds of Gravel, Sand and Clay: read June 2, 1859", Plate XVI, Archaeologia, Vol 38, 280-307 (1860). Conyers discovery was first published by John Bagford who thought the axe to be a weapon of the ancient Britons used to kill an invading Roman War Elephant. Evans used it in this paper as part of his first confirmation (with Joseph Prestwich) of a long human history stretching back to the time of the extinct megafauna (using Boucher De Perthes finds in France as principle evidence). We now know the axe is about 350, 000 years old, from an interglacial period when there were elephants present around the Thames valley as well as Homo heidelbergensis
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6345139
© PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Biface British Museum Discovery Drift Flint Fossil Hand Axe Heidelbergensis Homo Human Antiquity Implement John Evans Pleistocene Prestwich Tool
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the 1697 Grays Inn first British handaxe, a remarkable artifact discovered by John Conyers in London. The steel plate engraving, with later tinting, beautifully captures the intricate details of this ancient tool. Found near the bones of an elephant, this handaxe holds great significance in understanding human history. Originally published by John Bagford, who believed it to be a weapon used by ancient Britons against invading Roman War Elephants, the discovery gained further recognition through John Evans' seminal paper in 1859. Evans and Joseph Prestwich utilized this find as part of their groundbreaking research on human antiquity and its connection to extinct megafauna. Today we know that this axe is approximately 350,000 years old and dates back to an interglacial period when elephants roamed around the Thames valley alongside Homo heidelbergensis. This illustration serves as a testament to our ever-expanding knowledge about early humans and their interactions with prehistoric creatures. Preserved at the British Museum, this flint implement stands as a tangible link between our ancestors and these majestic animals from another era. Paul D. Stewart's artistry brings forth not only the physical beauty of this tool but also ignites curiosity about our shared past and deepens our appreciation for archaeological discoveries like these.
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