Bjj Mrs. M. E. Gnnnington. 531 



like those of the flints, but are smoothed, and sometimes even 

 sHghtly polished. The rounded flint hanimerstones liave also in 

 some cases evidently been utilised for the rubl)ing or grinding 

 process as is shown by their extra smoo h surfaces, and by the 

 characteristic ridges produced on their roL ided outlines. 



Several suggestions have been made as j) the possible ip'^lstry 

 in which these hanimerstones may have ))een used. The pro' aljility 

 of their having been used in the manufacture of other f ' imple- 

 ments is negatived l)y tlie absence of flint debris such as rough 

 flakes and broken flint in any quantity, and of broken and im- 

 perfect implements. It was suggested tbat they might have been 

 used in the preparation of clay, and in crushing flint, etc., to mix 

 with the clay, for making pottery, but no evidence of pottery 

 liaving been made on the spot was found. 



There are, however, a great many small fragments of sarsen stone 

 •scattered over the site, and many sarsen boulders on the adjacent 

 downs, and it is not unlikely that at one time, there were many 

 sarsen boulders in the immediate vicinity. A quern stone, mealing 

 stones, and rubbers of sarsen, found on the site, show that sarsen 

 was used for other purposes than hammerstones, and the presence 

 of fragments of In'oken sarsen suggests that boulders have been 

 broken up on tlie spot. It seems, therefore, probable that some 

 sort of industry of which sarsen was the raw material was carried 

 on here. To be worn as they are, the hammerstones must have 

 been used on some hard material, and, with the exception of flint, 

 sarsen is the only hard stone to be found on the site. 



Tbat similar hanimerstones of Hint and sarsen were actually used 

 for dressing sarsen appears to be proved by the tonls found in the 

 <'X(;avations at Stotuihenge in 1901. Tlie implements found at 

 Stontihenge seem to have been chielly used foi- hammering (»r 

 pounding, and rarely f<»r rul)bing or grinding. Tho surface thus 

 dress(Ml liy pnunding would no doula do well onougli for the 

 stones of Slonoliongo, but, if might woU have been found necessary 

 to suppleiiuMiL this with a furthor process of grinding if ciuerns. 

 mealing stones, and such-like small. t objects were benig prepared. 

 It is suggesUMl, tluMffort', that it w,is in I ho manufael uie of saisen 



._, .J. .y 



