26 MR. W. G. CLARKS ON NEOLITHIC MAN IN THETFORD DISTRICT. 
way to their tools was obstructed with tons of chalk. All the 
implements were covered with a limestone incrustation that told of 
the centuries they had lain there, hidden from the light of day. 
In later years, the most famous flint quarries were those at Lingheath, 
Brandon, a few miles distant, and which formerly supplied the 
whole British army with gunflints. But, to resume the quarrying, 
we will consider for a minute or two their methods of working. 
The shafts were about six or eight feet in width, sunk perpendicu- 
larly through the chalk, the various strata of flint being utilised as 
found. At Grimes’ Graves, after attaining a depth of forty feet, 
they started working in a horizontal direction, but this is unusual. 
Successive stages were made on alternate sides of the shaft, and up 
these the flint was laboriously carried by hand in large blocks. 
Many of these were probably used in exchange for articles from 
other parts of England, as miniature cores often occur many miles 
from localities where flint is found, the knappers there not being 
able to indulge in the prodigality of those who had an endless store 
of flint. We will, however, trace a block of flint for use amongst 
the tribe that dwelt around Grimes’ Graves. A knapper, as the 
flint-workers are called, probably an apprentice to the art in this 
case, seated at the foot of some forest giant, would take one of the 
large blocks of stone, and gripping it securely between his knees 
would strike it obliquely near the edge, using pressure as much as 
possible, and strike off a flake. After he had obtained all the 
flakes possible, the piece of flint that was left is what we term the 
nucleus or core. Many a flake he would spoil, but all the good 
ones would be put carefully on one side, the majority showing the 
bulb of concussion, and some being as much as twelve inches in 
length. Then the expert, or skilled workman would come, and 
with his hammer of some tough stone and delicately-balanced 
fabricator of flint, he would mysteriously manipulate the plain 
flakes into exquisite works of art, and an artist he was, for lie 
possessed a true sense of beauty. 
Having arrived at this stage, the finishing off of the various 
implements, we will review the different varieties, and the specimens 
of Neolithic workmanship I have either found myself or personally 
examined within the past three years, 1892 — 5. Without denoting 
the exact locality of each separate specimen, I may say that the 
majority are from Santon Warren, Stonehcath, Thetford Abbey 
