Biface

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is one of the very few Paleolithic bifaces discovered in Great Britain whose exceptional sizes and condition suggest that they were not intended as tools, but created and prized for their monumental and aesthetic qualities. The large flaked removals are characteristic of the Acheulean lithic industry, which represents the first standardized tradition of toolmaking of Homo erectus and early Homo sapiens.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art