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AWL
Unique ID: CORN-682321
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Flint awl, lentoid in plan, lozenge-shaped in profile and triangular in section, with a pointed distal end and a snapped proximal end at the bulb of percussion. The bulb that remains has had a flake taken off of it on the ventral face, presumably to improve hafting. The awl has been unifacially retouched on the left margin of the dorsal face and bifacially retouched on the right margin, where there is some working on the ventral face, about a third of the way up from the proximal end, to create a slight notch. So it may have been used as a blade as well as an awl for perforation.
The flint is mottled light to dark grey in colour, which suggests that it might have been derived from local beach flint. The length to breadth ratio is about 2:1 which is appropriate for an awl or blade.
Bond (2004) illustrates two awls and a knife with similar features on pages 135, 137 & 147, Figs.5.121, 5.124 & 5.133, Nos.F56, F28, & F172, which are all dated from the Neolithic period.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
Period from: NEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 4000 BC
Date to: Exactly 2350 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 57 mm
Width: 26.7 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight: 14.5 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 2nd January 2005
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Knapped/flaked
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
District: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: St. Mabyn (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SX0373
Four figure Latitude: 50.52354028
Four figure longitude: -4.7806027
1:25K map: SX0373
1:10K map: SX03SW
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond, C. | 2005 | PAS Guide to the Identification, Assessment and Recording of Lithics | London | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | 135, 137 & 147, Figs.5.121, 5.124 & 5.133, | Nos.F56, F28, & F172 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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