Discovery of a Large Number of Palceolithic Instruments. 109 



manship, are of quite a different type to any that have been found in 

 the Thames Basin. They bear some resemblance in their shape to 

 the well-known Neolithic axe-heads, but the chisel-like edge has 

 been produced by the removal of two large flakes instead of by 

 grinding. I am inclined to think that they are forerunners of the 

 Neolithic axe-heads, and that they were employed for the same 

 purposes. Fig. I. illustrates a specimen in Mr. Leslie's collection. 

 It is, perhaps, not a very favourable example to bring forward in 

 support of my view, on account of the peculiar inclination of the 

 chisel-edge to the longitudinal axis. This feature, however, is often 

 met with in the Neolithic axe-heads, it being even more marked, for 

 instance, in some specimens in my collection from the Gold Coast. 

 In most of the Vereeniging implements, however, the chisel-edge is 

 in its normal position, namely, at right angles to the long axis. An 

 example found by myself is so neatly and symmetrically shaped 

 that but for the evidence of the others it would certainly have been 

 taken for a Neolithic axe-head, the fact that the chisel-edge was 

 obtained by chipping instead of by grinding being obscured by the 

 slight amount of weathering it had undergone. 



Mr. Leslie's specimens also include one or two examples of the 

 well-known group, consisting of a big flake worked on one side only. 

 These particular examples have the appearance of large massive 

 scrapers, but it is more probable that they were used as choppers. 



Three implements of special interest are shown in Figs. II., III., 

 and IV. That represented by Fig. II. is a rough implement of 

 irregular outline and primitive form. It would pass as an example 

 of man's first attempt to manufacture an implement of that class. 



The two implements represented by Figs. III. and IV. are 

 unique. The former side and edge views of a long knife-like variety 

 of the tongue-shaped type, noteworthy for its fine workmanship. 

 The latter represents an implement which is peculiar in being pointed 

 at both ends. Both are forerunners of the well-known Neolithic 

 forms. 



