54 H. J. L. Beadnell — Flint Implements from Fayum, Egypt. 



For some years the existence of flint implements in the Fayum 

 has been known, as specimens of the more common forms had been 

 collected by Beduin and sold to antiquity dealers in Cairo, in whos& 

 shops they were exposed for sale. Nothing, however, appears to 

 have been known as to their exact locality and mode of occurrence, 

 and, with the exception of one or two specimens figured by M. de 

 Morgan, the types of this group have never been illustrated or 

 described. The accompanying Sketch-map shows the particular 

 part of the Fayum desert whence these implements were obtained. 



It is not intended to describe in detail the different specimens 

 figured, or to attempt to divide them too closely into different 

 classes ; the chief varieties may be briefly referred to as follows : — 



A. Arroiv and Spear Heads. (Plate III, Figs. 1-9.) — These occur 

 in a great variety of forms, the untanged sort being especially 

 noticeable; the outer edge is frequently serrated. The finished 

 specimens are usually of very fine workmanship. Probably they 

 were largely used for spearing fish, as I shall show that these flint- 

 using people lived on the borders of a great lake teeming with fish. 



B. Saio-edged Implements. — The common varieties are seen in 

 Plate III, Figs. 10-14. 



0. Cutting-edged Implements. — In Plate III, Figs. 15 and 16, and 

 Fig. 7 in Plate IV are spear-shaped forms, while Figs. 17-21 in 

 Plate III and Figs. 1, 3-6 in Plate IV may be called knives, and 

 were probably used for a variety of purposes. Fig. 2 is a curiously- 

 shaped weapon.^ 



D. Axe-liJce Tools. (Plate IV, Figs. 8-11.) — The specimen shown 

 in Fig. 8 is typically ' neolithic ' in type, being beautifully ground 

 and having a very true, sharp, cutting edge. The other three 

 are also well-made tools, and show a combination of flaking and 

 grinding. In addition to the above more or less definitely marked 

 types, are numerous more rudely -shaped flints, many probably 

 unfinished discarded failures, which do not lend themselves to 

 classification. In one or two places the number of flakes lying 

 together suggested that the work of fabrication had been done on 

 the spot, but no extensive workings have as yet been noticed. 

 Several varieties of flint and chert are noticeable, and although some 

 of the material may have been supplied by the neighbourhood, it 

 was probably mostly derived from the Lower Eocene limestones 

 to the south or from the Cretaceous limestones of Abu Eoash to 

 the north. 



With regard to the age of these flints, Mr. Quibell informs me that 

 it is impossible to date them by comparison with known flints from 

 tombs, etc. There may be certain resemblances between some of 

 them and others of known age, but the group as a whole seems 

 quite distinct. A most interesting and important fact, however, 

 is their connection with the ancient topography of the Fayum, 

 Although I have traversed the Fayilm depression in almost every 

 direction, I have so far failed to find any of these implements except 



[1 Perhaps a spearhead? — Edit.] 



