CORE

A flint core fragment probably dated to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age period.

The core is a medium-small sized single platform conical flint core, probably dating to the Neolithic period (c. 4000-2400 BC). The core is of a light grey with frequent off-white mottled conclusions, and a darker grey band on one side. It has small patches of orange staining from local iron deposits in the soil. It is approximately D-Shaped in plan, and sub-rectangular in profile and cross section. The striking platform has a single flake removal taken horizontally to provide a flat, smooth and even striking surface. One of the flakes taken from the outside edge of the core is elongated with parallel edges indicating blade manufacture, while the others are irregular in plan, indicting the manufacturing of flakes. There are at least ten such removals from the core.

The core measures 29.4mm long, 35mm wide, 13.6mm thick and weighs 18.28 grams.

Cylindrical and conical cores alongside the manufacture of blades of the indicated width may be characteristic of either Mesolithic or Neolithic use. These artefacts are part of a larger assemblage of other flint artefacts that has been found at the spot indicated. There is also a piece of flint with multi-directional working (implying bronze age), a retouched flake, and a collection of 8 pieces of debitage. Blade technology is typically indicative of Neolithic activity, therefore this assemblage is likely to date from the Neolithic (starting c.4000 BC) to the Early Bronze Age (ending 1600 BC).