SCRAPER (TOOL)

Small flint waste flake / debitage probably dating from the Neolithic period (2900 - 2100 BC). The flake is broadly oval in both plan and profile. It has number of regular facets caused by flaking and also plough-damage on the upper (dorsal) face of the flake. The lower (ventral) face has very little evidence of flaking. It does however have a clear bulb of percussion and the point of percussion (which created the flake) can be clearly identified. There is no evidence of cortex (the rough outer skin of the flint nodule) present on either face. This suggests that this flake comes from the tertiary (or final) phase of tool production. The waste flake has been reworked to form a side-scraper of later Neolithic date. This has been achieved by the long outer curved edge of the dorsal face being heavily reworked using pressure flaking to form a multi-faceted serrated cutting and scraping edge. The same edge on the ventral face has also been retouched but this is not as prolific or concentrated. One edge of the flint has been snapped – probably in antiquity as a similar patina is present. This type of flint tool is relatively common in the Marches area as there are limited sources of flint. This means that tools tend to be much smaller than other areas and pieces of debitage are often reworked to form small tools. The flint is a light-mid grey colour with a number of lighter seams running through it. The flake measures 26.6mm in length, 18.4mm width, is 6.9mm thick and weighs 3.38 grams.