Excavated Viking swords have become a familiar feature in the London salerooms, but prehistoric finds are rarer visitors and were generally warmly welcomed.
“It was pleasing to see global coverage in the Neolithic objects which we have not touched on before,” said Del Mar.
The stone implements were of Scandinavian origin, mostly dating from c.2500BC, and included daggers, sickles and axeheads. The appeal of these ancient objects is clear and the most finely worked examples were selling for between £1000-3000 at the auction on December 4.
Four of these are illustrated here, along with a rare silver-mounted Viking spearhead.