Surface Implements of a Late Palæolithic Site

Extract

Early in 1917, when near Abbeville for a few days, I carried out certain expeditions with the idea of searching the river gravels around that district. As any form of trenching was out of the question owing to the time at my disposal, I had to content myself with surface finds.

In this I was very successful, finding no fewer than 144 implements and some 300 odd worked flakes in 3 days. The patination of the implements, from this site, ranges from pure white to a yellow-white shade. The patination in non-lustrous and in most cases the implements are heavily stained with iron.

No implement was found with any trace of polish and all were unrolled. The site, which lies S.E. of the village of Hallencourt (Dept. Somme), was very restricted, extending about 200 square yards, outside of which no trace of implements or worked flakes was to be found, although many flints existed. Captain Malcolm, R.A.M.C., and myself searched the lower surface and found nothing, all the finds being on the highest ground. The site is between the 100 metres and the 120 metres contour line, and at the actual spot is 109 metres (357.5 feet), as near as can be ascertained.