A Hand-axe from beneath the Norwich Crag

Extract

In his important Presidential Address, dealing, principally, with the diggings he carried out beneath the Norwich Crag, Mr. J. E. Sainty drew attention to a remarkable flint implement (Fig. 2 of the above-mentioned paper) which was found by Mr. T. F. Newnam in the well-known pit at Whitlingham, near Norwich. After haying shewn that the specimen was derived from the pre-Crag Stone Bed, Mr. Sainty gave a careful and accurate description of this implement, and concluded by stating, “It is altogether a very convincing and highly important specimen from the point of view of dating the industry which it represents.”

There are, I imagine, few archæologists who, having examined this implement, would disagree with Mr. Sainty's opinion. The specimen is, in fact, of such great significance that it was considered desirable to have it illustrated in four views, and this has now been successfully accomplished by Mr. C. O. Waterhouse, of the British Museum. Mr. Sainty has been so good as to ask me to undertake the task of further describing, and of commenting upon, this implement, and I am indebted to the Curator of the Castle Museum, Norwich, where the flint is now preserved, for loaning it to me for examination. If attention is now directed to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, it will be at once realised that the specimen found by Mr. Newnam is a coarsely-flaked and massive (it weighs 2¼ lbs.) hand-axe. A further examination will show that the flaking which has shaped the implement has been produced by heavy, though skilful blows delivered by a hammerstone of considerable size and weight. It is clear, also, that the specimen was formed by means of what is known as ‘free’ flaking, in which the side from which the flakes are to be removed is not supported by pressure of the hand, or some other object. The result of the application of the above described technique is the removal of flakes inclined to be thick, and showing prominent bulbs of percussion, and of greater breadth than length.