Palæolithic Implement of Hertfordshire Conglomerate

Abstract

THE rudely-made Palaeolithic implement, illustrated to half the actual size in the accompanying engraving, is probably unique in the highly intractable material from which it is made. It was found by me in May last with Palaeolithic implements of flint in the Valley of the Ver, Markyate Street, near Dunstable: its weight is 1 lb. 6¼ oz.—1677 in my collection. Although rude, there is no doubt whatever as to its true nature; there is a large bulb of percussion on the plain side, as seen in the edge view, and the hump-backed front is chipped to a rough cutting edge all round, each facet going right through the embedded pebbles. Its condition is totally different from a newly-broken block of Conglomerate, and indeed of Conglomerate broken in Roman times by quern-makers. It is faintly ochreous from feeing long embedded in clay, and sub-lustrous. Newly-broken Conglomerate is in colour a lustreless cold grey. The peculiar nature of the material would not admit of finer work: I have tried hard to flake Conglomerate without the slightest success; it breaks only after the heaviest blows, and then in the most erratic manner, the embedded pebbles often flying from the matrix. Sir John Evans has seen this example, and agrees with my conclusions as above expressed; he also informs me that several years ago he found what appears to be the point of a lanceolate implement of the same material and of Palaeolithic character on the surface of a field near Leverstock Green.