Emily White, a young archaeologist from Hereford, recently found three flints whilst out fieldwalking. She reported these to the Finds Liaison Officer (FLO), Peter Reavill, who works for the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). These flints are some of the earliest evidence for people living in Herefordshire in prehistoric times.
Emily discovered the flints while her parents were metal detecting with the Hereford Metal Detecting Club on a site outside Hereford. The flints are all very small and Emily discovered them by looking carefully in the ploughed field. These are the oldest finds from this area but members of the metal detecting club have found Roman and Medieval coins as well as a number of other artefacts such as brooches. The three flints date from some of the oldest periods in British History; the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and the Neolithic (New Stone Age).
The two Mesolithic flints that Emily found are both tools, the first (PAS record HESH-B97D95) is probably part of a borer, a tool for piercing holes through leather bone, or wood. The second is the lower part of a long thin flint blade (HESH-B95088). The blade could have been used for a number of different jobs, from scrapping fat from hides to cutting and shredding. The edges of both flints have been retouched to create sharp serrated edges. The two flints can’t really tell us much about the site itself, but as they are both tools and there has been no evidence of flint knapping (such as the flint waste), it is likely they were casual losses (or accidentally dropped) by people passing through.
Emily’s Neolithic flint (HESH-B9BE01) is likely to date from the later Neolithic period. It is a waste product (debitage) from making, or more likely repairing / re-sharpening, a larger tool. Flint in the Marches and parts of Wales is relatively scarce because it does not occur in large quantities; this means that many of the waste flakes were reused to make other tools. It is likely that Emily’s flint was reused as a scraper.
Emily’s flints, like all finds recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, were returned to her so that she can look after them. The members at Hereford Metal Detecting Club thought that Emily’s flints were so interesting they awarded her a special shield. This was for the best artefact discovered in 2006 by using your eyes only – rather than with a metal detector.
When was the Mesolithic Period?
The Mesolithic period dates from about 6,500 BC – 3,500 BC (which is 8,500 – 5,500 years ago). This is a very long time ago and our knowledge of Britain then is very limited. Every artefact recorded from this period allows us to say something new about what happened then.
What were people like then?
During the Mesolithic Britain was populated with small groups of people (probably extended families of no more than 30 people). These groups traveled around following migrating animals and living from the land. They are often called hunter-gathers but it is likely that their society was extremely complex, with different groups meeting at certain times of the year.
What Evidence do we have for Mesolithic People?
Evidence for these people is limited to the tools they used, occasionally excavation of these sites allows archaeologists to identify ‘hearths’ (where they had fires) and ‘pits’ (where they buried their rubbish). The best way to identify these sites today is through the recovery of tools made of flint and stone. Mesolithic people also used tools made of bone, antler, and wood, but these seldom survive because they rot away.
When was the Neolithic Period?
The Neolithic period dates from around 3,500 BC – 2000 BC (which is 5,500 – 4,000 years ago).
What is the difference between the Mesolithic and Neolithic Periods?
The Neolithic period differs from the Mesolithic in a number of ways. The most important of these we think is that the people living at the time did not move around as much.
What do we know of the people of the Neolithic?
The Neolithic people tended to live in one area, for example in one valley, rather than moving around the countryside. The main reason for this is that Neolithic people cleared large areas of land for farming crops, such as cereals (wheat).
How do archaeologists tell the difference between Mesolithic and Neolithic tools?
The Neolithic peoples used flint and stone in similar ways to the people who lived during the Mesolithic. Archaeologists can distinguish between those made in the Mesolithic and Neolithic by the shape and style of the working. Mesolithic flints tend to be formed from blades, which are long and thin. Neolithic flints tend to be flakes, which are varied in shape. There is a wider range of flaked tools from the Neolithic than the Mesolithic. The most common tools from the Neolithic are scrapers (for cutting and scrapping).
Where could I find flint and stone tools?
The prehistoric periods lasted for a very long time and the tools that people used can be found almost anywhere in the British Isles. The Portable Antiquities Scheme has recorded flint tools from gardens, allotments, parks, footpaths and flower beds, so you don’t have to go to a field or be in the countryside to find them.
If you go out for a walk why not look at the ground around you and collect any pottery, flint or stone that catches your eye. Remember where you found all of your finds, and make a diary of where you found them and when. Then take them to your local Finds liaison Officer (see list of FLOs on www.finds.org.uk), or to your local museum who will help you identify what you have found.
OpenCalais helped to tag this with: Britain • British Isles • Emily White • flaked tools • Hereford • Hereford Metal Detecting Club • larger tool • metal detecting • metal detector • Peter Reavill • recorded flint tools • stone tools • Wales • waste product • www.finds.org.uk
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