Description: A Neolithic red stone discoidal macehead with central hour glass perforation for insertion of a wooden shaft. Some chips to the periphery and overall surface wear but a nice example of the type.
Size: 96 mm/3.8 ins. in diameter and 20 mm/0.8 ins. in thickness
Culture: Egyptian
Date: c. 4th Millennium B.C.
Provenance: Ex F.S. Clark Collection, Woking, Surrey.
Background: Mr Fred Clark (1923-2016) ran the Old Curiosity Shoppe, The Quadrant, Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey, in the 1970’s-1980’s selling a range of collectables. A passionate collector and field-walker, he built up a fine collection of antiquities, notable for British prehistoric items, a significant number of which he obtained through trade with Dr. H.A. Fawcett. Like Fawcett, he was meticulous in documenting his collection, even the most humble tools were catalogued and fully labelled with locality, accession number and his characteristic monogram.
Notes: Such maceheads are well-known from the Fayum Neolithic and may have had both functional and ceremonial uses.
References: For similar examples see Petrie Museum, University College London, UC15399 and from the Fayum UC2528.
