Ursel Benekendorff Finds

Groß Pampau

Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany, 1980s & 1990s

In glacial till approx. 7 to 18 m (23'-60') beneath the current terrain surface.

Artifacts mostly of flint apparently from Sweden, Denmark, and Baltic Sea area.

(Click HERE for Background Information.) 

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Photography by Alan Day in Geesthacht, Germany and Cambridge, Ohio.

All this is only a very small sampling.

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UBCH01

Palaeolithic Chopper Tool, Flint, Groß Pampau

Multiple views of a  Mode-1-style chopper, enhanced on its proximal surface to provide an ergonomic hand grip.  Clearly man-made - note the distinct localized impact scars and percussion ripples.
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UBCH02

Another  Mode-1-style Chopper

Palaeolithic Chopper Tool, Flint, Groß Pampau

 

 

UBFK01

Acheulean-style Hand Axe

Acheulean Handaxe, Groß Pampau

Acheulean Handaxe, Groß Pampau

 

 

UBFK02

Palaeolithic Handaxe, Groß Pampau

Note distinct impact scar and ripples at lower/right end of long flake removal.

      

 

xUBFK04

Miniature Palaeolithic Handaxe, Groß Pampau

 

 

xUBFK05

Hand Axe, Levallois Technology

Levallois Handaxe, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

xUBFK06

Levallois Quartzite Handaxe, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

xUBFK07

Palaeolithic Handaxe, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

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UBFK08

Handaxe Preform?

with Apparent Bas Relief Figure

(Figure in third & fourth photos down.)

Palaeolithic Handaxe, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Above and below, note distinct impact scar, bulb of percussion, and impact ripples at upper/left end of long flake removal.

Impact Scar/Ripples on Handaxe Preform, Groß Pampau

Bas Relief Figure on Handaxe Preform, Groß Pampau

Above and below,  a zoomorphic figure in relief, apparently by laminar reduction.  (Bird?   Bear?)

Note the clearly intentional step fracture forming the creature's back, and also the four nearly parallel short carved striations on the back of the neck.

Zoomorphic Figure on Hand Axe Preform - Ursel Benekendorff Find, Groß Pampau
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xUBFK09

Anthropomorphic Hand Axe Preform?

Approx. same dimensions and overall morphology as others shown above.

Anthropomorphic Hand Axe Preform - Ursel Benekendorff Find, Groß Pampau

 

 

UBFKG01

 

 

xUBFG0002

Flint Blade Tools, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Backed and/or prismatic blades - flint.

 

Backed and/or prismatic blades - granite, quartzite, basalt, gneiss, felsite.

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xUBS01

Palaeolithic Flint Hand Tool, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Palaeolithic Flint Hand Tool, Groß Pampau, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

xUBC03

Flint Chopper apparently for Red Ochre Processing

Palaeolithic Flint Scraper/Chopper, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Palaeolithic Flint Scraper/Chopper, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Above and below:  Red Ochre Residue on Working Edge

 

 

xUBG01

Flint Bird-form Gouge with Red Pigment Residue

Groß Pampau Artifact - Bird-form Gouge with Red Pigment Residue

Groß Pampau Artifact - Flint Gouge with Red Pigment Residue

Groß Pampau Artifact - Flint Gouge with Red Pigment Residue

Groß Pampau Artifact - Flint Gouge with Red Pigment Residue

Groß Pampau Artifact - Flint Gouge, Retouched Blade

Above, retouch on two of the three edges of a prismatic blade.

Groß Pampau Artifact - Flint Gouge, Flaking Impact Scar and Ripples

Above and below, distinct localized impact scars and percussion ripples.

Groß Pampau Artifact - Flint Gouge, Flaking Impact Scars

Groß Pampau Artifact - Red Pigment Residue on Flint Gouge

Pigmented area approx. 2 mm long.

 

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UBV01

The "Venus of Pampau"

Click HERE for a lab report on this piece.

Venus of Pampau - Flint Artifact from Northern Germany

Venus of Pampau - Flint Artifact from Northern Germany

Venus of Pampau - Left Breast, Flaking Impact Scar

Above, figure's left breast. 

Note distinct impact scar, bulb of percussion, and impact ripples.

Venus of Pampau - Parallel Flaking Scars, Cortex Trimming

Above, note multiple parallel flake removals and trimming of cortex.

Above, yellow ochre (powdered limonite) on top/back of head - representing hair?

Venus of Pampau - Face

Below:

Red and blue pigment under clear lacquer-like material on figure's left eye.

Red  = iron oxide?  Blue (unusual) = manganese oxide?  

More XRF lab work ahead...

  
Below, the figure's right eye (viewer's left), a likely naturally formed cavity in which a tiny rock (crystal?) was wedged.

 

 

UBMTH01

An apparent Mammoth Figure in flint

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Below, base of figure clearly showing human workmanship:

Below, close-up of apparent eye in top photo:

 

 

UBB01

"Auerhahn" in Flint

Flint Bird Figure, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Below, base of figure.

 

 

UBB02

Flint Bird Figure, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Flint Bird Figure, Groß Pampau, Parallel Flaking, Impact Ripples

 

 

UBB04

Flint Bird Figure, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

UBB05

Flint Bird Figure, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

UBB03

Flint Bird Figure, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany; Parallel Flake Removals

Note multiple long parallel flake removals.

 

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UBM01

Flint Face-like "Mask"

Flint "Mask", Groß Pampau Artifact, Northern Germany

Flaking Scars & Impact Ripples, Flint "Mask", Groß Pampau

Note multiple distinct localized impact scars with percussion ripples.

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UBM02

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UBBL01

Apparent Lamp of Fired Limonite (Yellow Ochre)

Fired Limonite Bowl or Lamp, Artifact From Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Fired Limonite Bowl or Lamp, Artifact From Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

UBBL02

Flint Bowl or Lamp

Flint Bowl, Artifact From Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

UBST01

Zoomorphic Flint Figure with Red Ochre

Paste and Powder, and Stone Teeth

apparently wedged into Mouth

Flint Figure with Inserted Pebbles, Red Ochre Powder and Paste Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Flint Figure with Red Ochre Powder, Groß Pampau Artifact

Below:  Electron microscopy image showing probable artificial modification of flint at crevice containing wedged pebbles. 

Flint Figure with Red Ochre Powder, Groß Pampau Artifact

Flint Figure with Red Ochre Paste, Groß Pampau Artifact

Spectrum Chart, Flint Artifact with Red Ochre Powder and Paste

Above:  Spectrum charts of compositional analysis with XRF/EDS at the University of Akron's Geosciences Department.

(Equipment: Quanta 200 scanning electron microscope with EDS attachment)

 

UBSG01

Flint "Stargazer" Figure

Flint "Stargazer" Figure, Groß Pampau Artifact, Northern Germany

Below, the reverse side of the figure.  Note the multiple parallel flake removals.

 

 

UBSG02

 

 

UBFI04

Fossil(?) inclusion framed by flaking

Flint Artifact Trimmed to Frame Fossil(?) Inclusion, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

UBFI05

Fossil(?) inclusion in flint pick

Palaeolithic Flint Pick, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

UBFI02

Framed Echinoid (Sea Urchin) Fossil

Flint Artifact Trimmed to Frame Echinoid Fossil Inclusion, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

UBFI03

Flint Artifact Flaked to Frame Fossil(?) Inclusion, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Flint Artifact Flaked to Frame Fossil(?) Inclusion, Groß Pampau

 

 

UBC01

Flint Figure with Echinoid Fossil Inclusion

 

Flint Figure with Echinoid Fossil Inclusion, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

UBC02

Flint Artifact with Inserted Pebble, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Flint Artifact with Inserted Pebble, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

 

UBKSCH01

Carved and Incised Quartzite Cobble

Engraving on Quartzite Cobble, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Crosshatch Engraving on Quartzite Cobble, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Crosshatch Engraving on Two Sides of Quartzite Cobble, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

Crosshatch Engraving on Two Sides of Quartzite Cobble, Groß Pampau, Northern Germany

 

Copyright Alan Day 2015-2024

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