PALEOLITHIC IMPLEMENTS FROM THAMES VALLEY. 53
contemporaneous implements in the low-level drift of the Thames
Valley, especially in the Essex portion, I have thought it desir-
able, while describing them here, to give in addition an account
of some specimens which I obtained from the brickearth at
Grays, together with others from Crayford. Moreover, they
belong to the generally little known group of flake-tools, and
have a further interest in that they well exhibit the dexterity and
neatness in the art of flaking which Palaeolithic man had attained
at this late epoch of his reign in Britain.
The first discovery of implements in the low-level drift of
the Thames Valley was made at Crayford,1 where, beneath the
chalk cliff against which the fossiliferous brickearth abuts, Mr.
F. C. J. Spurrell came across a dense layer of flakes :—
" The uppermost edge of the area covered by them is about 36 feet from
the present surface, the lowest nearly six feet lower. This area was thickly
covered with chips for the space of about 10 feet north and south, and, as far
as I know at present, 15 feet east and west . . . but I expect that it will
be found to extend further . . . The fragments of flint lay touching each
other, in parts to a thickness of several inches . . . the flakes are in
most cases quite new and clean, always so on the lower side, very slightly
discoloured on the upper. . . I have been able to piece together many of
these flakes, and to demonstrate that the object sought was the manufacture
of haches, which has been confirmed by my digging out the broad end of a
flint hache in the presence of Prof. Boyd Dawkins, whom I had asked to visit
the place; and later I recovered the rest of the implement. . . Some of
the smaller chips leave no doubt that besides these coarser operations of
blocking out, very fine work indeed was attempted. . . . A few small pieces
of bone were found immediately beneath the layer ; but above could be seen
fine specimens, and smaller ones in abundance. . . Numerous splinters of
the large bones lay around and suggested their having been broken for food."
This locality has also yielded a large number of designedly
shaped flakes, a characteristic example of which is shewn in
Fig. 1. There can be no doubt that this was meant to be used
as a knife, the thick end probably being bound round with
vegetable fibre or animal sinew, after the style of the Australian
knife figured by Sir John Evans,2 and as such one cannot but
admire its effectiveness. It well illustrates the clever way in
which the later Palaeolithic people manipulated the flint. Even
more eloquent of their ability is the testimony of the spear-heads,
one of which is represented by Fig. 2, for their shape is an indis-
putable indication of forethought and skill in execution.
1 F.C.J. Spurrell, "On the Discovery of the Place where Palaeolithic Implements were
made at Crayford." Q. Journ.Geol. Soc., vol. xxxvi. (1880).
2 The Ancient Stone Implements . . . of Great Britain, 2nd edition, London. (1897).