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SCRAPER (TOOL)
Unique ID: PUBLIC-244198
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A chopping tool, probably also used as a scraper, oval in plan, triangular in profile and semi-circular in section. Made on a primary flake, struck from a flint nodule, which has then been extensively and bi-facially re-worked although a large patch of cortex remains on the dorsal face. The distal margin of the steeply domed dorsal face has been sharpened by the removal of lateral flakes through about two thirds of the circumference of the tool. At the proximal end a single large flake, together with several smaller ones, have been removed at the margin of the dorsal face to enable the tool to be held comfortably when in use. Following the reworking of the dorsal face the ventral face was reworked by the removal of wide, shallow flakes from its margins: these have completely removed all trace of the point and bulb of percussion of the original flake.
The tool was made from a primary flake struck from a flint nodule which shows no sign of having been water-rolled. The flint is unpatinated, finely textured, black in colour but mottled with occasional very small white inclusions. The closest source for this type of flint is Beer Head in Devon.
Notes:
Butler (2005) on page 186, fig.76, no.13 illustrates a Bronze Age chopper. Although this differs in shape from the present example his text on the facing page 187 discusses variations in chopping tools from Bronze Age sites: in particular he states that they were normally made on large flakes or nodules and that a number of flakes removed unifacially of bifacially from the cutting edge formed the chopper blade.
Bond (2004) illustrates large discoidal scrapers on pages 151 & 154, figs. 5.135 & 5.138, nos.F131 & 8, which are dated from the Bronze Age.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Period to: BRONZE AGE
Date from: Circa 2350 BC
Date to: Circa 1150 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 40 mm
Width: 34 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight: 33 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st November 2003 - Saturday 30th November 2013
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SM3.5
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: Morwenstow (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SS1912
Four figure Latitude: 50.87907399
Four figure longitude: -4.57425339
1:25K map: SS1912
1:10K map: SS11SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 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 | pages 151 & 154, figs. 5.135 & 5.138 | nos.F131 & 8 | |
| Butler, C. | 2005 | Prehistoric Flintwork | Stroud | The History Press | page 186, fig.76 | no. 13 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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