232 On the Recent Discovery of Flint Implements 



posed of coarse green-sand chert. This kind of chert is more 

 tough, although less easily worked than flint ; and hence probably 

 compensated by this quality for the additional trouble required to 

 chip it into shape. 



The size of these implements offers almost as great a variation 

 as their form. The smallest pointed example from Highfield near 

 Salisbury, measures rather less than 2J inches in length, whilst 

 the largest from Milford Hill is 8|, and another specimen from 

 the same locality which has unfortunately lost its point, would 

 when perfect, have measured at least nine inches ; 1 but by far the 

 most common form is only half this size. 



The workmanship in many cases is excellent, the weapons being 

 formed by the skilful chipping off of a very great number of small 

 flakes, a process which gives a symmetry of outline and a strength 

 of body attainable by none but well practised hands. In looking 

 over a large series however, one has frequently noticed the few bold 

 strokes which have been sufficient to form implements evidently 

 intended for some temporary use. Mere rudeness of workmanship 

 is of course not sufficient to condemn these as accidental forms, the 

 evidence of design, indicating the adaptation of a given stone to a 

 certain definite purpose, is the point which stamps these rude efforts 

 as the result of human work, and human fore-thought. 



But Mr. Evans has pointed out that if further evidence were 

 needed, the link would be found in the fact that many show traces 

 of actual wear, both in a blunting of the cutting edge, shown by 

 a number of fine chips, and also by a certain alteration of the 

 original shape, probably produced by the repointing of a broken 

 tool, which gives a stunted and peculiar form very like what is often 

 seen in the finely chipped and easily broken stone daggers of 

 Denmark. 



There is also a point which affords a very strong argument in 

 favour of the peopling of this island by one race, or a series of 

 closely allied races, during an extended period of time. It is the 



1 Mr. J. W. Flower has lately obtained from the gravel of Red Hill, Thetford, 

 a remarkably fine implement which measures 1 1 § inches in length : this, I 

 believe, is the largest specimen hitherto discovered in the drift. 



