192 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [June 22, 



present position, were in operation but for a short period, since other- 

 wise the sharp edges which they still retain would have been rounded 

 and worn, if not altogether obliterated ; and further, that the rolled 

 and discoloured surface of the flint-pebbles with which they are 

 associated (and from which indeed it seems probable that they were 

 originally taken and fashioned) was due to some former change — 

 the drift or gravel having subsequently been merely shifted from 

 some other spot, bearing these implements with it, just as the loose 

 ballast in the hold of a vessel is shifted and rolled from one side 

 to another. 



No one who attentively examines these implements can doubt that 

 they are the products of human skill. Rude and uncouth as they may 

 appear, that rudeness is probably not so much due to any deficiency of 

 intelligence in the manufacturers, as to the want of iron or some other 

 metals wherewith to work. Probably no workman who found him- 

 self destitute of metal tools would be able to produce from flint- 

 pebbles more useful or elegant implements. Those who are familiar 

 with the forms which are presented in those flints which are casually 

 fractured will agree that it is almost impossible that even a single 

 flint should be so fractured by accident as to assume the shape of 

 these implements ; but here we have a great number, all taken from 

 a single quarry. Further, it will be seen that the original or natural 

 surface is never retained where it at all interferes with the shape and 

 symmetry of the weapon. Wherever it woidd have so interfered, 

 chiefly on the sides and at the point, it has been chipped away ; and 

 thus there has been no waste of labour, nothing having been removed 

 but that which was inconvenient. It will also be noticed that they 

 are all formed after a certain rude but uniform pattern ; they are 

 worked to a blunt point at one end, with a rude cutting edge on each 

 side, and a sort of boss at the other extremity, forming a handle or 

 hand-hold. In order the better to form this double edge, a ridge is 

 left running down the centre ; and the edges have been formed by 

 striking away the flint in splinters from each side, in a direction at 

 right angles with, or a little oblique to, the axis, the base or under 

 side being usually either flat, or but slightly convex. 



The discovery of these implements under the circumstances in- 

 dicated cannot fail to suggest many interesting inquiries. We 

 should all desire to know something more concerning the persons by 

 whom, and the purposes for which, .they were fabricated,— how it 

 happened that so many of them were brought together in so small a 

 space, — and how it is that no remains have hitherto been found of 

 those by whom they were made and used. These, however, are 

 speculations which seem to belong to the province of archaeology 

 rather than to that of geology ; and they are only now alluded to by 

 way of suggestion that topics of such importance and interest are 

 well deserving the investigation of archaeologists. 



