SCRAPER (TOOL)

Three flint scrapers of probable Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age date, probably dating to c. 3,300-1,600BC.

1. Tertiary flake of mottled pale grey flint, missing the proximal end and bulb of percussion to a natural break, with relatively large, but diffuse conchoidal ripples on the reverse. Abrupt, long, sub-parallel retouch along the distal and left edges of the dorsal face, obscuring the negative removal scars, but which appear to be struck from a different platform to the overall removal. Length 26.7mm; width 29.3mm; thickness 14.5mm; weight 5.90g.

2. Tertiary flake of slightly translucent grey-brown flint, speckled with pale inclusions and missing the proximal end and bulb of percussion. Two sub-parallel removal scars are present on the dorsal face, probably struck from the same platform as the overall removal. The right edge of the dorsal face extending up to the centre of the distal end exhibits short, semi-abrupt scalar retouch. Length 24.4mm; width 24.2mm; thickness 10.0mm; weight 2.09g.

3. Secondary flake of opaque grey-brown flint, with a small area of cortex surviving on the dorsal face and potentially also the possible striking platform. No clear conchoidal ripple marks or bulb of percussion on the reverse, with natural breaks on two edges. Potentially struck through cortex, but this is tentatively suggested. Long, semi-abrupt, sub-parallel retouch along surviving lateral edge. Length 26.2mm; width 23.9mm; thickness 13.3mm; weight 4.13g.

The small size, limited retouch and irregular knapping of these flakes would all probably suggest a date in the Later Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, although in the absence of a larger assemblage or dignostic pieces any attept at dating must be tentative. See also DEV-603F42, a possible incomplete Neolithic knife, found in the same field.