Replacing Flakes on Palæolithic Implements

Abstract

THIS wonderful feat was first performed by my friend Mr. F. C. J. Spurrell of Dartford. On first thoughts the thing seems utterly impossible, and it is obvious that no flake can possibly be replaced upon an implement unless one lights on the exact spot where the instrument was made, and finds both implement and flakes in position. Mr. Spurrell so found his material. During the present summer I have discovered another and similar Palæolithic floor, far removed from Mr. Spurrell's, and where implements and flakes are exposed in a stratum perfectly undisturbed since they were gently covered up in Palæolithic times with fine sand containing the shells of such freshwater molluscs as Unio, Cyrenia, and Bythinia. For obvious reasons—the chief one of which is that my work would be totally stopped if I mentioned the locality—I will content myself with stating that the position is nearly a mile from any river, and the floor is 41 feet above the level of the nearest stream; above the floor is a thick deposit of fine stratified sand, and above that loam. On this Palæolithic floor I have found several implements and a large number of flakes, and on one of the finest implements, an example 6 inches long, 3$\frac{1}{8}$ inches wide, and weighing 1¼ lb. I have been able to replace two flakes, one 2¼ inches long, the other 2 inches in exact position; the flakes slightly overlap each other on the implement, and boih have been struck from the edge of the implement at right angles across its face. The implement and flakes were close together, and with them I found a hammer-stone of flint with a distinctly battered and abraded edge. Mr. Spurrell replaced many flakes round his implement, but the implement itself was a spoilt and poor example. My implement, on the contrary, is an unusually fine one, large, heavy, and perfect. Both the implement and flakes show a little of the original grey crust of the flint from which the instrument was made, and this peculiar grey colour led me to attempt the replacement of the flakes with the above-mentioned successful result. One flake has a slightly uneven edge—in some instances considered a proof of use—the second flake is quite sharp. I shall exhibit this implement, with other implements, flakes, &c., from the same place, at an early meeting of the Anthropological Institute.