434 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



intermediate in age between the early glacial Contorted Drift 

 of Cromer and the glacially deposited Chalky Boulder Clay. 

 The specimen, and others of the same order from the gravel, 

 have evidently, by their condition, been derived from some 

 still more ancient deposit which at some remote period was 

 broken up and redeposited. 



The flaked areas of the flint are light chestnut-brown in 

 colour, and the side opposite to that figured is formed of 

 unflaked cortex which is extensively coated with a deposit 

 of what appears to be manganese. The major fractures 

 (marked T in the illustration) are almost certainly of thermal 

 origin, while the edge flaking which has given to the stone 

 the well-marked pointed form is considered, for reasons which 

 will be given later, to be the result of blows. The specimen, 

 which measures in greatest length (A — B) 2 \ in., greatest width 

 (C — D) 2 1 in., greatest thickness f in., exhibits neither scratches 

 nor incipient cones of percussion upon its flaked surfaces. The 

 edges and angles of the flint are somewhat smoothed, possibly 

 by the action of running water. 



Fig. 2. — Found in the high-level plateau gravel of Kent. 

 The exact geological age of this deposit, though undoubtedly 

 extremely ancient, is still in debate, and as it does not contain 

 any fossiliferous remains, it is possible that it may never be 

 satisfactorily dated. The flaked areas of the specimen range 

 in colour from yellowish-white to yellowish-brown. The upper 

 surface is formed almost entirely of unflaked cortex which is 

 of a dark brown colour. The under-surface, which appears to 

 be attributable to thermal breakage, exhibits the hard interior 

 of the flint, and is extensively scored with small striae which 

 follow very erratic and non-parallel courses. The edge-flaking, 

 which has given to the stone the well-marked pointed form, is 

 considered to be the result of blows. The specimen, which 

 measures in greatest length (A — B) if in., greatest width 

 (C — D) 2 T V in., greatest thickness § in., exhibits no incipient 

 cones of percussion upon its flaked surfaces, nor does it show 

 any signs of having been subjected to the action of running 

 water. 



Fig. 3- — Provenance the same as specimen represented in 

 fig. 1. This specimen (fig. 3) has been made from a piece 

 of tabular flint, and its upper and lower surfaces are represented 

 by unflaked cortex. The flaked areas of the specimen are of 



