A Note on the Flint Implements from Tel Michal and Nahal Poleg

Abstract

At Tel Michal 14 flint implements were discovered during the 1977 season of excavation: four sickle blades, one knife with lustre, four side scrapers, one retouched flake and four broken flakes. Except for one sickle blade (Fig. 1:2) which came from a Middle Bronze Age context, none of the flints were found in situ (see Fig. 1). Sickle blades: One sickle of brown flint was found broken at both ends. Trapezoidal in section, it is of the type known as the "Canaanite blade", common in the Early Bronze Age. It is delicately retouched on both sides; there are traces of lustre but it is difficult to differentiate the lustre from the gloss covering the entire blade, a result of having been exposed on the surface for a lengthy period. Two sickle blades, trapezoidal in shape, are made of white-patinated flint. Steep retouch appears on the two ends, both of which are backed (Fig. 1: 1). The cutting edge is denticulated and clearly shows traces of wear. The pointed sickle blade (Fig. 1:2) is trimmed at the base, and its cutting edge has a wide band oflustre. Blades similar to the three described above are to be found at Tel Nagila and may therefore be attributed to the MB IIB-C (Gilead 1973). The trapezoidal blades were probably mounted in the centre of the sickle shaft, while the pointed one would have been at its tip (Gilead 1973:Fig. 5). Knife with lustre: The knife, a blade measuring 10 x 3.7 x 0.8 em., is made of good quality brown flint. There are traces of cortex on its upper face (Fig. 1:3). The cutting edge is straight and· sharp and shows traces of wear; the lustre band appears on both faces. Towards the base of the ventral there are two notches; since the bulb of precussion was removed, it may indicate that the blade was hafted. The base and part of its end are truncated. In the TelNagila assemblage there is a similar item that was classified as a knife (Gilead 1973:Fig. 4:22) but has no traces oflustre.