SCRAPER (TOOL)

An irregular flint scraper of uncertain date, possibly late Middle Palaeolithic (c.60,000-40,000 BC).

Description: The scraper is formed from a single flaked piece of lint and irregularly shaped. It is quite thick and has cortex is present on the right edge of the scraper. There is flaking across both sides and there is no clear ventral or dorsal face. The bulb of percussion and conchoidal scarring (rippling) is quite obscured and variable. There is very short retouch along the top right distal edge retouch is short, scaled semi-abrupt to abrupt retouch from one angle and invasive scaled, semi-abrupt from the other. The flint is an opaque dark grey-mottled with light grey and the cortex is a light brown colour. Substantial brown iron staining is present across the surface of the flint. A hinge fracture on the bottom right side of the flint is more recent accidental damage which obscure some detail

Measurements: 74.07mm long, 56.87mm thick, 24mm thick and 108.43g in weight.

Discussion: Irregular scrapers such as this are difficult to date, however the large size and utilisation of a large piece of lint rather than a secondary or tertiary flake may suggest a Palaeolithic date. With Levallois in the early Middle Palaeolithic (and earlier) and end scrapers being more dominant in the early Upper Palaeolithic a late Middle Palaeolithic date is possible but it is not possible be certain.