Reindeer Antler

Discovered on 18 September 1898 on the beach near ‘Bercke’, France (Berck, Pas-de-Calais, France), according to inscription.

With CBC 257547 from the French Ministry of Culture permitting export, and EU license no. 2026DMF0025

Antlers played a fundamental role in ancient technology across the European continent and were among the most important organic materials used by toolmakers during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Unlike harder stone hammers, antler billets allowed for greater precision and control during the knapping process, enabling the careful shaping and thinning of flint tools through softer, more elastic impact. Tools of this type were essential to the production of finely worked hand axes, blades, and other stone implements.

The present example, formed from reindeer antler, survives in exceptional condition with a rich natural patina and an elegant, sculptural form. Particularly notable is the historic inscription running along the surface, recording its discovery on 18 September 1898 near Berck in northern France. Such early inscriptions form part of an object’s collecting history in their own right and preserve a direct link to its discovery over a century ago.

The antler has also been radiocarbon dated to 3953–3715 BCE, providing a remarkably narrow date range and firmly placing this object within the Late Neolithic period.

Beyond its archaeological importance, the piece possesses a strong visual quality. The sweeping curve of the antler and the worn surface created through age and use give it an almost sculptural presence. Objects such as this formed an essential part of the ancient toolkit, directly linked to the manufacture of the stone implements that define the Paleolithic and Neolithic worlds.