Knowlks — Prehistoric Stone tmjdements. 199 



like those already described, either as a knife or spear-point. It shows slight 

 teething along the edges, either from use in cutting or from knocking against 

 other stones in the river. 



I show in No. 4 another flake which is pointed, but not so symmetrical 

 as N"os. 1 and .3 ; but in its natural state it would appear to have been 

 more regular in form than No. 2. It would be less suitable in its present 

 form for a spear-point than for a knife. A little trimming of the edges, where 

 they project most on each side, could have made it regular and suitable for a 

 spear-head ; but the edges, being all good and sharp, have evidently been 

 retained for cutting purposes, and only the portion nearest the base has 

 received a slight dressing, as in the other three cases. This circumstance, in 

 my opinion, favours the theory of its having been a knife rather than a spear- 

 head ; and I believe the three flakes previously described were also employed 

 as knives. This specimen was found in the valley of the Bann, in peat some 

 distance from the river, on the County Antrim side. It is formed of grey- 

 mottled flint, like No. 3. In Plate XII will be seen some more flakes dressed 

 at the base for shafting. The curved points in Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14 make 

 them unsuitable for spears. The curves in the points of Nos. 6 and 8 are 

 natural ; but those in the points of 4, 7,13 and 14 have been made intentionally 

 — possibly with the view of supplying a blunted surface for the forefinger 

 to rest on in order to exert pressure when cutting, as has been suggested by 

 some authors. The flakes with curved or oblique points are not rare. A little 

 irregularity in the outline of a flake would not, so long as the edges are 

 sharp, affect the cutting quality of the flake, as we see in No. 9 ; and therefore 

 it is provided with a good tang for shafting. No. 10 is also irregular, by having 

 one side projecting much further from the midrib thq,n the other ; but the 

 projecting part has not been chipped off, for the reason, in my opinion, that the 

 projecting part has a sharp edge suitable for cutting ; therefore this also would 

 be used rather as a knife than a spear-head. Some flakes of the pointed kind, 

 with symmetrical sides, and having a worked tang at the base, may have been 

 mounted as spears (see Nos. 11 and 12), but they could also have been used 

 as knives. 



Many flakes from Lough Neagh and the Bann, even though irregular in 

 shape and without points, may have been turned, to serviceable use. If the 

 edges were sharp, they could be employed as cutting-tools, or for scraping or 

 hacking. The flake shown in No. 13 has been employed in hacking or 

 some other hard usage, as will be seen by the edge to the left. It appears first to 

 have been hacked and blunted, and afterwards to have received a considerable 

 amount of dressing to make it have somewhat of sharpness again. 



Three more examples of pointed flakes are shown in Nos. 15, 16, and 18. 



