190 



Bead Nov., 1853. 



Whitby, 21 October, 1853. 



Dear Sirs, — I beg to forward to you, for the Yorkshire 

 Philosophical Society, a drawing of a flint, found on Fyling- 

 dales Moor. It was obtained in the vicinity of several ancient 

 British tumuli, and, as you are aware, it is only one of a num- 

 ber of uncommon flints in my possession from that and similar 

 localities. A variety of opinions may be given as to its probable 

 use : some deem it a comb, some a saw, others again think it may 

 have been used for dividing the sinews of animals for bow-strings 

 or thongs, and one gentleman supposes our primitive ancestors 

 may have used it for the purpose of tattooing, and in this 

 opinion, I am inclined to concur, although I have never seen 

 anything in the ancient writers to warrant the belief that the 

 insertion of colour beneath the epidermis was practised. What- 

 ever use it may have been put to, I have but little doubt, from 

 the enquiries made, that it is the first flint of the shape found in 

 England, and I am satisfied that nothing of the kind has ever 

 been seen by some of the most eminent Archseologists of the 

 present day in this country. 



I am, dear Sirs, 



Yours truly and respectfully, 



SAM^. ANDERSON. 



To the Secretaries of the Yorkshire 

 Philosophical Society. 



