Three years ago, a six-year-old boy named Ben stumbled upon what seemed like an ordinary rock on a beach in Sussex, England. Unaware of its significance, he took it home and promptly forgot about it. Now, that “rock” has been identified as a 50,000-year-old Neanderthal hand axe, making it one of the rarest archaeological finds in the region.
Unexpected Find
Ben rediscovered the artifact three years later and, with his mother’s help, contacted James Sainsbury, curator of archaeology and social history at Worthing Theatres and Museum. Sainsbury initially assumed the find would be unremarkable, as most beach discoveries turn out to be simple pebbles.
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“I get emails like this all the time,” Sainsbury told Live Science. “But as soon as I saw the photo, I thought, ‘That’s an Upper Paleolithic Neanderthal hand axe.’ It’s an absolutely incredible find.”
Neanderthal hand axes are small, dark, two-sided flints that were used for breaking bones to access marrow or other daily tasks. These tools, distinctive to the Neanderthals of the late Paleolithic period, are highly recognizable due to their unique craftsmanship.
A Rare Piece of History
Sainsbury identified the artifact as a Mousterian hand axe, a type made during the final days of the Neanderthals in Europe and Britain. Some scholars believe such tools were crafted by the last generations of Neanderthals, who faced dwindling populations during this era.
“As far as Sussex is concerned, it’s really quite rare,” said Sainsbury. “In our museum, we have one example and one only. They’re extremely rare because presumably the Neanderthal population density was very low.”
Buried and Preserved
The artifact’s remarkable preservation suggests it spent most of its history safely buried underwater. Sainsbury speculates that the axe was unearthed during beach defense work, where shingle from the English Channel or North Sea—specifically Doggerland—was used to reinforce the shore.
Doggerland, a submerged region beneath the North Sea, was once inhabited by prehistoric people before rising sea levels flooded the area about 8,000 years ago.
“It’s very unlikely it would have made it onto shore, at that height on the beach, without being damaged,” explained Sainsbury.
Museum Display and Future Interest
On November 24, Ben and his family brought the artifact to Worthing Museum, where Sainsbury confirmed its authenticity. Within an hour of the meeting, the hand axe was on public display. Ben loaned the artifact to the museum, where it will remain until February 2024.
Ben, now nine years old, has a burgeoning passion for archaeology. Sainsbury noted, “He really knew his stuff—his Bronze Age from his Iron Age from his Romans. He clearly has a real interest in archaeology.”
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Since the hand axe’s debut, the museum has experienced a surge in visitor interest. The artifact’s discovery not only highlights the importance of preserving historical finds but also serves as a reminder of the rich prehistoric history hidden beneath modern landscapes.