BLADE

A Neolithic utilised flint blade or notched piece. The blade is sub-rectangular in plan with parallel sides, crescentic in profile and triangular in section. It is 71.5 mm in length, 21.5 mm in width, 6.5 mm in thickness and weighs 10.45 g. The remnant of the striking platform is visible at the proximal end where on the ventral face there is a small bulb of percussion together with a bulbar scar with conchoidal rippling visible along the full length of the blade. The dorsal face bears the scars of removal of two previous blades, with a prominent medial ridge between. When viewed from the ventral side the right margin has two notches that have been removed near the centre and about 20 mm of the centre of the left margin has been retouched by the removal of very small pressure-flakes. The corresponding right margin of the dorsal face has also been retouched for the same length. The distal end has also been retouched on both faces to form a point at the tip of the blade and a pointed notch between the two areas of retouch. Elsewhere the edges are slightly damaged through use. The flint is fine textured, grey-brown in colour with slight paler mottling and a small patch of cortex remaining at the proximal end. There are patches of gloss on both faces denoting use wear. Utilised blades such as notched pieces appear to be a 'tool of the moment' with a variety of short-term uses and are found in some early Neolithic assemblages.

Bond (2004) p.137, fig 5.124 illustrates a variety of lithic types from the Neolithic enclosure at Broom Heath, Norfolk of which nos. 24 and 25 most closely resemble the current implement.