LITHICS MATERIALS - AFRICA

PETRIFIED WOOD LOG

Ref #:  671

Type:  Petrified Log

Material:  Petrified Wood

Period:  ?

Provenance:  Sahara Desert - Algeria, North Africa

Measurements:  39 cm x 18.5 cm

Comments:  Numerous stone tools made of petrified wood have been found in the Sahara Desert dating from the Acheulian Period all the way to the Neolithic of Capsian Tradition.  This is a rare example of this raw material in natural form as a large intact log section with several knots and realistic texture and grain.  See specimens 243 and 242 for examples of some tools using this type of lithic resource.  Notice the grain of the wood in the finished tools.