Medium: Flint, elephant ivory
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:ca. 3300–3100 B.C.E.
Dimensions: 2 1/16 x 9 3/16 in. (5.3 x 23.4 cm)
Collections:
Museum Location: Pre-Dynastic, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
Exhibitions:
Accession Number: 09.889.118
Image: 09.889.118_view4_SL1.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Fine large knife of light pinkish grey-brown chert. One face polished, the other flaked all over, with parallel transversal ridges radiating from curving median zig-zag ridge, all very low. Butt trimmed for hafting by lateral cutting and by flaking on polished face. Very fine bifacial retouch on back edge, very fine unifacial retouch and biting serration on cutting edge. The back edge is straight, very slightly recurving to tip, the cutting edge very slightly curving finally curving in a hemicycle to back edge. Butt bluntly pointed. The butt is hidden in a handle of carved ivory. On one face, near inner end, there is an oblong knob, perforated longitudinally with a string-hole. Both faces are covered with relief of animals arranged in rows without groundlines. One of the most important documents of prehistoric art. Condition: The blade has a chip in the cutting edge for ritual destruction, and is broken in two at the point (now mended). The handle has been restored from numerous fragments and fixed in place. It is in fragile condition and parts of the relief are missing.