220 NOTES ON A FIND OF PRE-HISTORIC IMPLEMENTS, 



But in this situation it occurs simply in small nodules, set firmly 

 in the surrounding limestone, and is seldom found of sufficient 

 size and homogeneity to allow it to be used for such practical pur- 

 poses. The Chert found in such considerable quantities on this 

 hill top was probably brought from the valleys of the West Hid- 

 ing of Yorkshire, or even further southwards, where it can be 

 obtained in much better condition and in larger quantities than 

 the northern counties yield. 



The most abundant and interesting substance is certainly 

 Flmt. It has been picked up of all shades of colour, white, 

 red, black, etc. Some fragments occur with a portion of the 

 rind still adhering, by which it can be seen, in a few instances, 

 that the tool has been constructed from a rolled pebble, that may 

 have been picked up from the beach ; others are found having 

 chalky matter adherent on the exterior surface, and filling up 

 the indentations, as though worked when fresh from the quarrj'. 

 Amongst the objects of this class are some very fine black flints, 

 which seem unmistakably to belong to the noted layers of this 

 material in the beds of the south of England. Does the presence 

 of these flints on our Northumbrian hills carry us back to a remote 

 period, when the population of this country consisted simply of 

 a few petty tribes, wandering from end to end of om- island, 

 bringing with them, in their migrations, the raw material out of 

 which they could construct theii- few and simple tools, as need 

 required ? Or does it prove a state of inter-tribal commerce, 

 when the raw flint of the south was exchanged in barter to the 

 northern tribes for some corresponding advantage ? 



Finds in other Localities. 



The discovery of pre-historic implements in such large num- 

 bers on the iVllendale Fells, led, very naturally to the inference, 

 that if carefully searched for, similar objects might be found on 

 the surrounding hills. This was at once tried, and in the few 

 months that have elapsed since entering upon this general search, 

 tlie writer has been fairly successful, as the following list of lo- 

 calities and tlie objects they have yielded will show. All the 

 articles are of Flint except otherwise described. 



