Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOM-F8ADF8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Two retouched flint flakes of probable Neolithic date.
Flake 1 is made from a secondary flint flake that has a thin white pebble cortex the flint of which is a dark brown-grey colour. It is trapezoidal in plan with its right angled edge, as seen from the dorsal surface, being slightly curved. The dorsal surface has one earlier flake removal removing some of the cortex and has sub-parallel, low-angled retoutch on its right edge as seen from the dorsal surface. The ventral surface is plain with a medium sized bulb of percussion and clear conchoidal ripples emanating from it. The striking platform is also intact. It was probably intended to be used as an ad hoc scraper using a piece of debitage. It measures 20.2mm long, 26.4mm wide and 6.7mm thick. It weighs 3.39 grams
Flake 2 is made from a secondary flint flake that has a medium thickness white pebble cortex the flint of which is a medium redish brown colour. It is D-shaped in plan with its right mesal edge making the cured portion of the D. The dorsal surface has one, possibly two, earlier flake removals removing some of the cortex. Approximately two thirds down the length of the left mesal edge is a semi-circular notch below which is sub-parallel, semi-abrupt retoutch . The ventral surface is plain with a medium sized bulb of percussion, a percussion (eraillure) scar and occasional almost flat conchoidal ripples running from it indicating the use of a soft hammer. It measures 48.4mm long, 3.3mm wide and 8.2mm thick. It weighs 10.16 grams
The assemblage weighs 13.45g in total.
Retouched flakes in isolation can be hard to date. The ad-hoc nature of these flints and re-use of possible debitage flakes may suggest an Early Bronze Age use. However, these artefacts are 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.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
Period from: NEOLITHIC
Period to: NEOLITHIC
Date from: Circa 4000 BC
Date to: Circa 2400 BC
Quantity: 2
Weight: 13.45 g
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 21st November 2018 - Thursday 21st February 2019
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Other reference: SCC Receipt 018339
Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Knapped/flaked
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.