78 TrecJunann : Neolithic Remains 111 South Durham, 



lying- on the exposed clay and sand, which was blackish in 

 colour in some parts. 



The scraper is rather unusual in form, being- roug-hly tri- 

 angular, with secondary chipping- on one edge only ; it is made 

 of dark brown flint, and is g-lazed and slig-htly bleached from 

 exposure. 



Flint chippings may be traced all along the coast to the 

 mouth of the next large gorge, that of Castle Eden dene ; but 

 there are some ploughed fields just above the Black Hall rocks 

 which have yielded rather interesting results. The soil here is 

 light and sandy and apparently very fertile. The relics found 

 comprise many flint cores or so-called sling-stones, broken 

 pebbles, flakes, a few well-made scrapers (Nos. 3, 4, 5), a few 

 flakes trimmed round the edges, apparently intended to do duty 

 as knives (No. 8), one or two borers (No. 7), and one quite 

 small implement (No. 6). None of the fine implements, such as 

 occur on the Yorkshire Wolds, were found ; in fact, the series 

 resembles much more the implements found on the Scotch 

 coasts, and was probably made under similar conditions. The 

 flint is generally yellow or pink, and taken from rounded pebbles 

 (No. 2) found either on the seashore or in the glacial drift. The 

 flint in many cases has been partly burnt and cracked by fire. 



Since implements are not found inland in the neighbourhood, 

 we may conclude that the sites are simply those of ' kitchen 

 middens,' or dwellings of the Neolithic inhabitants who settled 

 along the coast, attracted, no doubt, by the abundance of pro- 

 visions to be obtained on the seashore. 



Between Seaton Carew and West Hartlepool there is a 

 kitchen midden (now covered up), of later date, in which Roman 

 remains and several broken pieces of flint ha\^e been found mixed 

 with many bones and shell remains. 



Probably such remains could be traced at all likely spots 

 along the coast of Durham and Northumberland. We have also 

 found traces of flint chippings at Rhyhope, Marsden, and near 

 Monkseaton, in Northumberland. Canon Greenwell records the 

 opening of a tumulus on the cliffs near South Shields. 



Explanation of Figi'res. 



1. Scraper. Moulh of Ci-imdon Dene. 



2. Split pebble of yellow flint. Black Halls. 



3. Scraper in pink flint, bleached white by exposure. Black Halls. 



4. Scraper, bleached white. Black Halls. 



3. Scraper in yellow flint (a ver\- small example). Near Black Halls. 



6. Small implement in ^rey flint. Black Halls. 



7. Borer in pink flint. Black Halls. 



8. Knife in gre\' flint. Black Halls. 



Natur.ilist, 



