Three years ago, Ben, a 6-year-old boy, found a peculiar rock while walking along a beach in Sussex, England. Although he initially lost sight of the object, it was recently confirmed that he had made the archaeological discovery of a Neanderthal hand axe dating back 50,000 years.
Archaeological Discovery and Confirmation
James Sainsbury, a restorer of archaeology and social history at the Worthing Museum and Theatres, received an email from Ben’s mother describing the finding.
Upon examining the attached photograph, Sainsbury immediately recognized it as a Neanderthal hand axe from the Upper Paleolithic, describing it as “an absolutely incredible find”.
Mousterian Tools
These axes, known as Mousterian tools, are pieces made of dark flint and double-sided, used by late Neanderthals for activities such as breaking bones to extract marrow.
According to Sainsbury, these findings in Sussex are unusual due to the low density of the Neanderthal population in the region.
Artifact’s Condition
The axe was almost intact, suggesting that it had been submerged underwater for most of its existence. This indicates that it was dragged along with stones used to reinforce the beach defenses.
The artifact could have been extracted from an ancient submerged riverbed in the English Channel or the North Sea, in the region known as Doggerland, inhabited by prehistoric peoples before being submerged around 8,000 years ago.
Early Interest in Archaeology
The case also highlighted Ben’s early interest in archaeology. Now 9 years old, he has shown remarkable knowledge about different historical periods, distinguishing between the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Romans.
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