169 
AX ATTEMPT TO APPROXIMATE THE DATE OF THE 
FLINT FLAKES OF DEVON AND CORNWALL. 
By SPENCE BATE, F.R.S., &c. 
T HE large number of Flakes and broken fragments of Flints, 
found scattered over the surface of the country, has attracted 
considerable attention from archaeologists. 
In speaking of these flakes, care must be taken not to confuse 
them with those tools that are found in the Drifts of England 
and France, and which are the result of a more extensive 
manipulation than is evidenced in the manufacture of the flint 
flakes to which we allude in this paper. 
These flakes are to be found on and near the surface of the 
superficial soil of the country. In the neighbourhood where 
flint is abundant their presence does not strike the observer so 
forcibly as in localities where, geologically, flint does not exist. 
Throughout the counties of Devon and Cornwall flint flakes 
and chips are plentifully scattered. In some localities, such as 
in the neighbourhood of Barnstaple, and at the Lizard, they are 
abundant, whereas in other districts they are only to be met 
with as isolated specimens. 
The character and appearance of these flaked specimens are 
various, some being well-formed arrow-heads, others representing 
the blocks from which the flakes have been struck, and others 
representing fragments of most irregular shapes. These last are 
more common in districts where the flint flakes are most abun- 
dant, but in those localities where the flints are scarce, the few spe- 
cimens found generally represent well-formed flake implements ; 
and these exist in a more or less perfect condition, according to 
the depth and nature of the soil in which they have been pre- 
served. Those that are found on, or near the surface of the 
.country are generally white, having the surface much oxidised, 
while those found more deeply in compact mould are fresh in 
colour, and but little changed in appearance from the freshly 
broken flint ; and those specimens, obtained from peat, appear 
as fresh as if but fractured yesterday. 
Some few years since Mr. Whitley reported that flaked flints 
o 2 
