DEBITAGE

An assemblage of six secondary flint blades of possible final Upper Palaeolithic to Mesolithic date. All are struck from a grey/brown flint with blue/grey patination and have a combined total weight of 106.04g. These blades formpart of a larger assemblage of flint blades, flakes, and tools, all found together on spoil excavated from a single pit during the construction of a soakaway. The complete assemblage finds close parallels to excavated long blade assemblages and industries in the surrounding landscape, most notably those recently published in the immediate vicinity at Brandon (E. Martin in Tester et al., 'Staunch Meadow, Brandon, Suffolk' EAA 151, 2014: p. 26). The presence of long blades (backed blades and bruised blades/lame mâchurée) within the assemblage suggests at least a Mesolithic date for the group, potentially extending into the final stages of the Upper Palaeolithic, perhaps c.12,000-4,000 BC.

1) Patinated blade with small striking platform and bulb of percussion, cortex remaining at the distal end. It has parallel blade scars on the dorsal face (possibly core rejuvenation?). This blade measures 93.83mm in length, 47.69mm in width, 8.34mm in thickness, and 29.76g in weight.

2) Partially patinated blade with small striking platform and bulb of percussion, snapped at the distal end, which has a hinge fracture and a small area of cortex. It measures 84.91mm in length, 37.00mm in width, 8.20mm in thickness, and 26.80g in weight.

3) Partially patinated blade with small striking platform and bulb of percussion. It is triangular in section with a parallel blade scars on the dorsal face and a small area of cortex remaining on one edge at the distal end. This blade measures 97.64mm in length, 26.50mm in width, 6.05mm in thickness, and 15.33g in weight.

4) Partially patinated blade, snapped at the proximal end and with hinge fracture at the distal end. It is triangular in section with cortex remaining along one edge. This blade measures 95.75mm in length, 23.46mm in width, 8.11mm in thickness, and 16.45g in weight.

5) Partially patinated blade with small striking platform and bulb of percussion, cortex remaining at the distal end. It has parallel blade scars on the dorsal face. This blade measures 88.68mm in length, 25.53mm in width, 4.58mm in thickness, and 11.63g in weight.

6) Partially patinated blade. It is triangular in cross-section with hinge fracture at the proximal end, cortex at the distal end. This blade measures 69.53mm in length, 15.61mm in width, 5.91mm in thickness, and 6.07g in weight.