The Fracture of Flint. A Reply to the Criticism of Prof. A. S. Barnes

Extract

In his criticism in the recent Proceedings of this Society (Vol. III., Part II, page 259) of Section II. of my Paper on “The Origin of the Rostro-Carinate Implements,” Prof. Barnes wrote that my remarks ‘contain so many statements which are incorrect that in the interests of accuracy they must be corrected.”

With the exception of the following three errors, I do not with draw any of my statements, and I regret that Prof. Barnes did not ask me for further explanation on points where our views differed before his attack was printed.

1st. I correct a mistake of mine on page 119, par. 6, where I suggested that steel hammers had been used in his experiments by Mr. Reid Moir, who informs me that he only used hammers of stone and flint.

2nd. Prof. Barnes points out a slip on page 124 of my Paper (2nd line from the end) where the following is printed, “The fracture turns towards the mass of the Core.”

Of course the fracture turns away from the Core, and not towards it! The latter was one of those annoying, but obvious, “slips of the pen” which will at times creep in. (N.B.–I advised Prof. Barnes of these mistakes in February, 1920, before his Paper was printed, though he omits to mention this. I also sent a correction to the Society for the 19th January meeting, 1920).