Palaeolithic Era Collection

Venus of Brassempouy
The Venus of Brassempouy carved out of ivory some 18, 000 years ago and discovered in Brassempouy, France. Believed to have been carved during the last stage of the Upper Palaeolithic age

Homo rudolfensis (KNM-ER 1470) Homo habilis (KNM-ER 1813)
On the left, KNM-ER 1470 (also attributed to H. rudolfensis). On the right, KNM-ER 1813. Both skulls are about 2 million years old. Held at The Natural History Museum, London

Upper Palaeolithic tools 18 - 30, 000 years old
L-R: a) Bone used to make needle blanks. b) Bone needle. c & d) Harpoon head and Barbed Point carved from antler. e & f) Two heads carved in mammoth ivory

Ivory and bone tools, Upper Palaeolithic C016 / 5026
Ivory and bone tools, Upper Palaeolithic. These items date from between 18, 000 and 30, 000 years ago. From upper left to lower right they are

Homo neanderthalensis (Ferrassie 1) cranium cast
Cranium cast of an adult male Neandertal Man (Homo neanderthalensis) discovered at La Ferrassie, Dordogne, France, by D Peyrony and L. Captian in 1909. The original specimen dates back 70, 000 years

Mousterian tools
A slide scraper and a pointed tool made from black flint of Mousterian age, 40, 000 - 55, 000 years old (Middle Palaeolithic), from Le Moustier, France

Homo habilis tools
A collection of pebble tools (Oldowan) discovered at the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. They date back to about 1.8 million years ago

Horse-head engraved on bone
Late Pleistocene wild horses head engraved on the right fourth metatarsal bone of a horse, specimen (NHM 38745). Found among horse remains from the Late Magdalenian site of Roc du Courbet, Bruniquel

Carved artefacts, Upper Palaeolithic C016 / 5307
Carved artefacts, Upper Palaeolithic. These prehistoric artefacts dates from 11, 000 to 18, 000 years ago. At top is a mammoth tusk carved to depict a reindeer (head at left)

Acheulean hand axe C016 / 4837
Acheulean hand axe. Flint hand axe from the Acheulean culture, with a rounded spall (flake) pot-lid split off from a larger rock by frost action

Limestone lamp, Magdalenian, from France
Limestone lamp of Magdalenian age, 11, 000 - 18, 000 years old (Upper Palaeolithic) from La Mouthe, France

Aurignacian tools
A bone point, probably a spearhead and a flint end-scraper tool of Aurignacian age, 30, 000 - 34, 000 years old from France

Limestone lamp with ibex carved on back
Limestone lamp with ibex carving, of Magdalenian age, 11, 000 - 18, 000 years old (Upper Palaeolithic) from La Mouthe, France

Venus in limestone
Figure of a woman, or Venus, engraved in limestone, Gravettian age 22, 000 - 30, 000 years old (Upper Palaeolithic) from Abri Pataud in France. Created by Cro-Magnon man

Harpoon carved from antler
Cast of an antler harpoon from the Magdalenian culture, 11, 000-18, 000 years ago (Upper Palaeolithic)

Hand-axes, blades & harpoon
The two axe-heads on the left are from the Middle Palaeolithic about 40, 000 BC; the three specimens on the right are from the Upper Palaeolithic abot 20, 000 BC (Agfa Film)

Bone needles of Magdalenian age
Bone needles dating back to about 15, 000 years ago. The Magdalenian tools discovered in France are believed to have belonged to early Homo sapiens who hunted reindeer during the last ice age

Vanguard cave, Gibraltar
Exterior view of Vanguard Cave, Gibraltar which has been excavated by palaeontologists. Discoveries of interest include chert flake tools and charcoal beds

Hand-Axes

Homo erectus, Acheulian man
An illustration of a lakeside campsite 400, 000 years ago of Acheulian man (Homo erectus) in the Quaternary Hoxnian Interglacial period, Lower Palaeolithic

Hand-axe
Flint hand-axe of Acheulian culture (Lower Palaeolithic) with rounded spall pot-lid split by frost action. Specimen from University of London, Institute of Archaeology

The Clacton Spear
This spear is named after Clacton-on-sea which is where it was discovered in 1911. It dates back 450, 000 years old making it the oldest wooden spear to have been found in the British Isles

Piltdown Palaeolith flint
Piltdown, Sussex item E.685 held at The Natural History Museum, London

Neanderthal artifacts
Stone tools believed to once have belonged to Neanderthal Man (Homo neanderthalensis) who lived in Gorhams Cave, Gibraltar

Gibraltar excavation
Excavation of Neanderthal fireplace at Vanguard Cave, Gibraltar. (Middle Palaeolithic)

Gorhams Cave, Gibraltar
A view of Gorhams Cave from the sea. Neanderthal artifacts have been found, dating from the Middle Palaeolithic inside this cave system

Flint hand-axe
Late Palaeolithic from Farnham, Surrey, England

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The Palaeolithic era, also known as the Old Stone Age, was a time of significant cultural and technological advancements. This period, spanning from around 2. 6 million years ago to about 10, 000 years ago, witnessed the emergence of early human species such as Homo rudolfensis (KNM-ER 1470) and Homo habilis (KNM-ER 1813). One of the remarkable artifacts from this era is the Venus of Brassempouy, a small ivory figurine depicting a woman's face. Dating back to approximately 25, 000 years ago, it showcases the artistic skills and creativity possessed by our ancient ancestors. The Upper Palaeolithic tools discovered from various sites provide insights into their tool-making abilities. These tools range in age from 18, 000 to 30, 000 years old and include horse-head engravings on bones as well as ivory and bone tools like C016/5026. Another notable aspect of this era is the existence of Mousterian tools which were used extensively by Neanderthals. These stone implements played a crucial role in hunting and gathering activities during that time. Carved artifacts found during excavations further demonstrate the craftsmanship prevalent in Upper Palaeolithic societies. Examples like C016/5307 showcase intricate carvings made on different materials. Acheulean hand axes (C016/4837) are another significant find from this period. These symmetrical stone tools were crafted with precision for cutting tasks or possibly even for defense purposes. Lighting sources also evolved during this time with discoveries like limestone lamps dating back to Magdalenian culture in France. The lamp featured detailed carvings or engravings that added aesthetic value while providing light. Homo neanderthalensis (Ferrassie 1) cranium cast sheds light on our close evolutionary relatives who coexisted with early humans during the Palaeolithic era.