BEDFORD: FLINT-FLAKE IMPLEMENTS FOUND IN THE ISLE OF MAN. 371 
The writer was unable to determine the source of the' flint 
nodules. They are ordinary grey flint from the chalk, but as no 
chalk strata occur on the island, it is difficult to say where they 
come from, unless they exist in deposits of boulder clay, drift or 
gravel. They would, in this case, be found washed out on the 
beach. The nearest point at whicli they could be obtained from the 
chalk in situ is the Irish coast, no more recent rock formation 
than carboniferous limestone existing in the Isle of Man. A 
close examination of the flint cores finally settles one point 
of the question, they were not got from the chalk in situ, and 
imported into the island. Most of the cores show a portion of the 
original outer surface of the nodule, and in all cases it is waterworn, 
and weathered to a considerable depth from the surface. Minute 
cracks or fractures are seen, caused by concussion in rolling to and 
fro, and striking one against another v/hen beaten by the surf on the 
sea-beach. If the flint had been procured direct by mining in the chalk, 
the nodules v/ould have presented quite a different appearance — the 
peculiar shapes of flint nodules recently obtained from the chalk 
being well known. Many of the implements are good specimens of 
early flint-flaking — some of the pointed instruments having no 
doubt required very careful manipulation to produce them, they are 
so small and delicate. 
Taking the collection as a whole, one is struck with the rude 
and primitive type of the weapons — they are simple flake tools, and 
do not show any signs of snipping into shape after the flake was 
struck ofl"— not a single specimen of a barbed arrow-head was found, 
nor yet showing any attempt at grinding into shape. 
The general type of flake will be recognised on referring to 
" Ancient Stone Implements of Great Britain," by Mr. John Evans. 
The figures 200, 233, 395, and 397 are average examples, but the 
edges are untrimmed. 
