ARROWHEAD

Leaf shaped flint arrowhead of probable Middle Neolithic to Early Bronze Age date (2900 - 2150 BC). The arrowhead is sub-oval (tear-drop shaped) in plan and lentoid in cross section. It has been knapped from a light-mid grey translucent flint with a series of brown flecks within its matrix. It measures 37.3mm length, 16.9mm width, and is 5.3mm thick. It weighs 2.71 grams. Both faces (sides) have been pressure (ripple) flaked with small neat narrow facets. Much of this rippled surface has been flaked with skill. There is on large central bulbous hinge fracture in the centre of the arrowhead. This has been carefully knapped around. The butt of the arrowhead has been well shaped and is slightly dished where the small flakes have been removed. The upper two thirds of both edges exhibit areas of secondary flaking or retouch. There is slight damage to one long edge; this has made the arrowhead asymmetrical in plan. This area has been re-flaked which would suggest that the damage occurred and was repaired in antiquity.

Flint tools from Herefordshire are relatively rare compared to other areas of the country. This flint is likely to have come from a riverine or glacial source if made locally. Potential evidence for this is the re-flaking of the damaged area and the fact that a large hinge-fracture remains in the centre of the arrowhead. In areas where flint is commonly found these types of flaw result in the arrowhead being discarded at an early stage of knapping.