By Wm. Cunnington, F.G.S., & Wm. A. Gunnington, Ph.D. 135 



That the polishing was due to the action of lightning has been 

 proposed, though without any proof as to its probability ; it has 

 also been said that it was caused by the friction of passing worms (!) 



To return then to the theory of the sand-blast. The polish, we 

 submit, was produced by the action of blown sand, as the flints lay 

 exposed on the surface. This view has been confirmed by the 

 result of some experiments lately made. We have succeeded in 

 producing a very decided polish on a freshly-broken Hint, by the 

 action of a constant flow of sand upon it, during about forty-eight 

 hours. It is to be specially noted that the process does not require 

 a very long exposure. 



The peculiarly high polish of the Knowle flints we would suggest, 

 is due in the first place to the fineness of the sand which produced 

 it. The sands of the desert generally brought home and exhibited 

 with the various sand-polished objects, are usually much coarser 

 than the sand in which these polished flints have been found. 

 Again, the presence of ferric oxide, which occurs to the extent of 

 about 6%, would no doubt aid in producing the unusually brilliant 

 surface. The highest polish of the lapidary is produced by the 

 use of the finest grits and metallic oxides, towards the end of his 

 process. 



We now turn to the consideration of certain characteristic 

 markings — scratches — which in many cases occur on the worked 

 surfaces of the implements, and are specially to be noticed on the 

 more exposed parts. These may be visible as distinct depressions, 

 but they have been in some cases filled up, apparently by white 

 silica, which often renders them still more obvious. Including 

 natural flints, some 10% of the stones from this pit exhibit these 

 highly characteristic markings. To us the marks at once suggested 

 glacial scratchings, and we have not found any reason for changing 

 that view. At the same time it must be admitted that this view 

 has not hitherto found a very favourable reception with some 

 authorities. 



What then, we must ask, are other possible explanations of the 

 phenomenon ? 



It has been stated that a land-slip, or any such movement of 



