NEOLITHIC CHIPPING-SITES 73 



chert on the way from the various exposures of the Yoredale 

 rocks where it occurs, as being the best substitute for flint 

 which the locality affords. 



The flint almost certainly came from the Yorkshire wolds, 

 and greatly resembles that composing the implements left in 

 such quantity by Neolithic man in that district. The rounded 

 and weathered surface of the raw material tends to show that 

 much of it was picked up on the sea coast. 



Of implements other than of flint and chert the only speci- 

 men found was a fine hammer stone or crusher of a very 

 dense quartzite, measuring three inches in length by one 

 and a half across (Plate IV., fig. 19). It has been carefully 

 smoothened over the entire surface, and shows some traces of 

 polishing due to finger action, while both ends are slightly but 

 quite perceptibly bruised, apparently more from pressure than 

 from blows. It may have been used in secondary chipping 

 on other implements. 



The occurrence of a rich Neolithic site such as this 

 strengthens the idea that many more such must be present 

 on our northern fells, such as lie at a moderate elevation and 

 afford a supply of water and some shelter from the prevailing 

 winds. Unfortunately in nearly all such localities the surface 

 of the soil is covered with a more or less thick covering of 

 peat on which grows the present heather, and it is only in 

 isolated cases, as in the neighbourhood of a smelting mill, that 

 we have an opportunity of examining the old land surface, 

 when we often find it rich in prehistoric remains. 



The occupation of the country over an extended period by 

 Neolithic flint chippers has caused a great accumulation of 

 imperishable flint remains on our fells, and all bare ground or 

 places where sods are being removed in connection with 

 reservoir construction or shooting butts should be examined 

 for flint flakes.* 



* A single modern gunflint picked up on this site completes the list of 

 flint implements. Dropped at a quite recent period amongst the heather, it 

 found its way to the level of the Neolithic surface when the heather was 

 destroyed. 



