A Nephrite Celt from the Fayum

centre of the arc the distance was 09 cm.The greatest thickness of the implement was 3-8 cm., the plane of the cutting edge being 2 0 cm.from a plane tangent to the cheek of one celt, and 1 8 cm.from a plane tangent to the other.At the butt the implement had been broken and shattered.One side showed distinctly that the edge had at some time been reground, making the celt a little " stubbier" than it had been originally.The whole surface was weathered by exposure to sand-winds, which had here and there pitted the implement, and had smoothed the once sharp fractures.The stone was compact, heavy, and of a dark greenish-grey, with an obscure lustre due to weathering.From the drawing it may be seen that this celt differs essentially in type from those commonly founid in the Fayiim and in Egypt.The known Fayum types are, for the most part, small implements of chipped flint, with edges converginig towards the butt, and with a cutting edge sharpened by grinding.Such celts are of fairly common occurrence, but are quite different in character from the specimen described above

Archaeology · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · History