Antler Pick

3D Model

• Origin: Rijckholt/ Sint Geertruid
• Date:Neolitic Period (5000 - 2000 BCE)
• Material: Deer Antler
• Dimensions: L:44.2cm
• Capturing: Nikon EOS 250D
• Processing: Agisoft Metashape Profesional Software
• Created by: Richard Stevenson and Amir Unda

Seven thousand picks made from deer antlers were found at an ancient mining site dug during the Neolithic (5300 - 2000 B.C.) on flint formations in the vicinity of Rijckholt/ Sint Geertruid.

The shafts that were dug to reach these flint formations went down to sixteen meters and the amount of shafts is estimated at five thousand. The deer antler picks were used to dig horizontal passages from the shafts. These are great examples of the scale and complexity that was already being involved in the gathering of resources by prehistoric humans.

Along with others located in Belgium, Great Britain and Poland, Rijckholt is one of the most important flint mines in Europe.

Themes: Daily Life and Death; Economics and Wealth; Religion and Beliefs