Rights Holder: York Museums Trust
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Unique ID: YORYM-887B28
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete knapped lithic implement of late Mesolithic to early Neolithic date, circa 7000 - 3500 BC. The implement is an awl or piercer formed from a tertiary flake which is ovate with a pointed projection extending from one edge. The ventral surface is smooth with ripples of percussion radiating from the pointed end. The dorsal surface displays signs of two flakes being removed, one considerable larger than the other. Steep and invasive retouch is present around the edges of the point, continuing up along the right edge and in to the distal end. This suggests the implement may have served a dual purpose as a scraper as well as piercer or awl.
The flint is a light grey colour with lighter chalky inclusions. The implement is 42.6mm long, 25.6mm wide, 6.1mm thick and weighs 5.8g.
Piercers tend to be more heavy duty tools than awls and were probably used for creating holes in leather or wood. Awls tended to have thinner cross sections and were probably used to work lighter materials than piercers. It is therefore likely due to the construction of this implement that the classification of awl is more apt.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MESOLITHIC
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: NEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 7000 BC
Date to: Circa 3500 BC
Quantity: 1
Length: 42.6 mm
Width: 25.6 mm
Thickness: 6.1 mm
Weight: 5.8 g
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Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: TA1770
Four figure Latitude: 54.11257558
Four figure longitude: -0.21171517
1:25K map: TA1770
1:10K map: TA17SE
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.