Flint-Crust Engravings, and Associated Implements, from Grime's Graves, Norfolk

Extract

Excavations at Grime's Graves during September, 1920, resulted in several interesting discoveries, notably the location of a new chipping and occupation zone, situated near the S.E. margin of the mining area immediately west of the Tumulus Pit, a locality which previous excavations had proved to be rich in occupation sites. Here, upon a living level immediately overlying glacial sand, two pieces of engraved flint crust were discovered associated with a series of flint implements of Mousterian type, bone tools and pottery.

Engraving upon flint crust was first noticed at Grime's Graves in 1915, upon Floor 16, a piece bearing incised lines of indeterminate character being found (Fig. A, 10) which was described and figured in the Proceedings, Vol. II., Part III., by Dr. Peake. Since then numerous similar examples have been discovered upon other floors, which, together with the occurrence of gravers, the discovery of chalk carving in the round, and of chalk balls by Mr. D. Richardson, and by the President, pointed to the hope of definite engravings being ultimately forthcoming if systematically searched for. This hope was further stimulated by Dr. Peake finding a few days prior to our visit a piece of crust bearing an engraved outline suggesting portions of the human figure (Fig. A, 11) and resulted in the careful scrutiny of every fragment of crust turned up during the subsequent excavations, which was finally rewarded by the discovery of two fine engravings (Fig. E).