GRIMES' GRAVES. PRESSIGNY. 87 



the horns of deer were the principal tools used, but " the wedge 

 and punch, driven into cracks in the chalk with the thick end 

 of the horn," seem to have been more employed than the pick. 

 These excavations were, some of them at least, certainly ante- 

 rior to the Camp. 



Deer-horn picks have been found in other localities, where 

 chalk has been worked for flint, and also in the Cornish Tin 

 Stream Works.* Near Spiennes also, in Belgium, there are 

 extensive workings, consisting of a system of shafts and 

 galleries, very like those of Grimes' Graves. These have been 

 described by MM. Malaise, Briart, Cornet, and Houzeau de 

 Lehaie.-f- Many tools of deer's horns have been obtained, but 

 they are of a very different character, having been apparently 

 used as hammers, the horn being cut off just above the brow 

 tine, which served as a handle. 



In addition to the deer -horn picks, a few adze -shaped 

 tools of flint have been discovered in Grimes' Graves, and a 

 basalt hatchet, in form resembling that represented in fig. 97, 

 but with an oblique cutting edge, the marks of which were 

 distinctly seen upon the sides of the gallery ; showing that 

 it had been used in excavating the chalk. 



As already mentioned, it was very desirable, in the manu- 

 facture of flint implements, to have the flint of a good 

 quality, free from cracks and flaws, and easily accessible. 

 Hence, places which fulfilled these conditions were specially 

 frequented in ancient times, and whole districts were sup- 

 plied from these favoured localities. One of the most re- 

 markable of these manufactories is that discovered by Dr. 

 Leveille at Pressigny-le- Grand, in France, about half-way 

 between Tours and Poitiers. Here there is an abundance 

 of good flint of a honey colour, and of even, though coarse, 

 texture. This flint was largely used in ancient times: the 



* See, for instance, Kep. of the f Mem. de la Soc. des Sciences, 

 Koy. Inst. of Corn wall, 1871, p. xxii. des Arts, &c., du Hainaut, 1866-7. 



