102 



On Some Uses of Flint Implements. 



machine was provided with some hundreds of chipped stones, and 

 many must have worked out and been left in the soil where the im- 

 plements have been long in use. They appear to have been dragged 

 backwards and forwards over the corn, the object being quite as 

 much to crush the straw and render it more adapted for feeding 

 purposes as to get out the grain. The inhabitants of Cyprus even 

 now cannot be induced to use any other than this machine for 

 thrashing their corn, believing it to be more advantageous for all 

 purposes. 



Among the natives of Australia stone implements were, until 

 recently, in constant use as weapons of offence. These implements 

 are from 3 to 4 inches in length, and rather bowed in shape. They 

 were used for hand-to-hand fighting, the object being for each com- 

 batant to close with his adversary and then to deeply score his back 

 with these weapons. They have now gone out of use, but the shape 

 has continued in a rude metal implement used in the same 

 manner. 



Much more might be said on this most interesting subject, and 

 many forms have been left unnoticed ; reference has alone been made 

 to the more usual forms of stone implements (and such as can be 

 commonly found on the Wiltshire downs). The chief object of this 

 paper has been to show that the implements of this district are 

 analogous to those now in use, and it may reasonably be inferred 

 that the makers and users of them here were no further advanced 

 in civilisation than are the aborigines of New Zealand and the 

 Islands of the Pacific. Still as this country has advanced to its 

 present high standard of civilisation from so. low a starting point, 

 a similar progress and development may be in store for them. 



