HAMMERSTONE

A complete possible hammer stone of probable Neolithic date (c.4000 - 2400 BC). The object is a flint pebble with an irregular but rounded form. The object has been damaged in multiple points with much of the thick white pebble cortex missing. the flint is a light grey with frequent light brown and mottled white patches and inclusions.

One region of cortex has a series of small percussion marks giving the surface a dimpled/pecked surface. This likely occured through the repeated hammering of this point of stone hundreds of times. Presumably when used as a hammer stone in the knapping of chipped stone tools.

The stone measures 61.1mm long, 59.2mm wide, 37.1mm thick and weighs 162.65 grams

Hammerstones have been used throughout history and not only in the making of chipped stone tools. However, this artefact is part of a larger assemblage of other flint artefacts that has been found at the spot indicated. Those flints and chert pieces which can be dated appear to date from the Neolithic (starting c. 4000 BC), due to the presence of several end scrapers and the evidence of wide blade production, to the early Bronze Age (ending c.1600 BC), due to the presence of multi-platform working and thumbnail scrapers. However, it is not inconceivable that some of these flints may also date from the Mesolithic period as some pieces of debitage show narrow blade technology. Similarly scrapers have a wide period of use dating as late as even the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age the flints from these periods typically being coarse as some of the debitage found. The region has also had several other flints that cannot be confirmed as having been worked in the area which may indicate natural flint or liming.

Nearby another assemblage has similar characteristics but also with an Early Bronze Age component ( c.2400-1600 BC), due to the presence of multi-platform working and thumbnail scrapers such that a Neolithic date is more likely for these cores.