212 NOTES ON A FIND OF PEE-HISTORIC IMPLEMENTS, 



pieces of flint on this ground?'* and we got the characteristic 

 reply — *' Aye, -wheyles : but Ah set nowt b' thim. Ah teake a 

 few heame wo' me sometimes ti pleese th' bairns — they amuse 

 theirsels wi' striekin' fire wo' thim." 



The objects that have been secured in this find are of a some- 

 what varied character, and are represented, as far as known, by 

 the following list. 



Implements in Gref:n'stone. 



No. 1. A somewhat ambiguous instrument, that measures 

 two inches by four inches and three-quarters superficially, and 

 rather more than one inch in greatest thickness, which occurs at 

 the middle. It is roughly oval in shape, but tapers somewhat 

 at the upper extremity; decreases in thickness towards eitlier 

 end, and the upper or narrow extremity has been ground on its 

 upper and under sides so as to terminate in a blunt ridge. A 

 shallow groove runs longitudinally nearly the entire length of 

 the instrument on both sides, and on one side there is a circular 

 cavity cut into the stone to a depth of rather more than one- 

 eighth of an inch ; it is cut within the groove, and rather below 

 the centre, towards the thicker end. The instrument has been 

 finely polished, but through long exposure is much corroded. 

 This is seen especially on one side where the surface has assumed 

 a rough, irony, and gi-anular appearance, which is characteristic 

 of the local trap rock. 



The implement bears some general resemblance to a stone 

 hammer; the grooves and circular cavity would assist the operator 

 veiy materially in liolding it firmly, if used by the hand. If it 

 was intended to be shafted, wc must then consider it of unfinished 

 workmansliip, and that the circular indentation sliows the com- 

 mencement of the boring process where it was intended to insert 

 a handle. The Rev. "\V. Greenwell, however, on examining the 

 instnimont, has hesitated to denominate it a hammer at all, as it 

 differs from the usual forms known as such, and this experienced 

 archoDologist would rather suggest that it may have been used as 

 a polishing stone; the two facets seen on the upper extremity 

 being some evidence of this. On the other hand, the sj-rametrical 



