Prehistoric flint tools and traces of their processing were discovered by archaeologists in the field in Iłża (Masovian Voivodeship). They were made by Neanderthals about 80,000 years ago, researchers from the University of Warsaw and the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw believe.
The artefacts consist of two flint knives and several dozen flakes, which were probably formed during the processing of knives.
“It may not sound impressive, but for us – archaeologists – it is a very important discovery. It is one of the northernmost sites in our country, where traces of the presence of Neanderthals have been discovered. The second one is located in Zvolen, several dozen kilometres away,” Dr Katarzyna Pyżewicz from the Faculty of Archeology of the University of Warsaw told Polish Press Agency.
The discovery was made in Iłża in a cornfield. These were surface surveys, which means that archaeologists collected antiquities from the surface. According to the researchers, it was a valuable place for a Neanderthal, because a few hundred meters from the place where the artefacts were found, there is an outcrop of chocolate flint – the raw material from which the found tools were made. According to scientists, it was perfect for making high-quality tools.