A NEOLITHIC FLOOR.
263
scraper of this type10, but in which the lower portion, including the bulb
of percussion, is nearly twice as wide as the spoon end. This would be an
impracticable shape for hafting, and it may be, as Mr. Toms supposes,
that the hollows were the functional parts of the implement. Another
scraper of small size and beautiful workmanship is figured (Plate XVIII.
f), also a neatly made saw (g), and two delicately chipped knives (d
and e).
Although none of the developed forms of arrow heads have been found
at Hullbridge, there are many small pointed objects which may have
served this purpose, such as (a) and (b), Plate XVIII.
It is interesting to note that a number of beautifully worked "pigmies"
have been found by Mr. Rand. (Plate XVIII., c). They are more
usually found in isolated groups, and it is rarely that these little
objects have been discovered on a living site, associated with
larger implements. Mr. Toms records a similar find near Brigh-
ton11, and remarks on the absence of objects bearing a high stan-
dard of flint chipping being associated with them. This is quite in
agreement with what is
found at Hullbridge. The
more finely worked arrow-
heads and knives, such
as are found in the
Bronze age barrows, do
not occur, and "pigmy-
flints" are generally
regarded as belonging to
the late Neolithic period.
Turning to the Pottery,
we have a somewhat
more difficult problem,
and doubt has been ex-

Fig. 10.—pottery lug, with vertical
suspension holes, from hullbridge.
pressed as to its being of
the same age as the flints.

Neolithic pottery is of
rare occurrence in this country, and some that has been found in the
tumuli is very different in character.
The pottery from Hullbridge is of a most primitive description, being
crudely made by hand and having distinct signs that it had been used for
cooking, while except for a few finger-nail marks on the rims, it is quite
devoid of ornament. Examples are shown in Plate XIX. It is rather
difficult to find any parallel to it among the British pre-historic pottery,
but it has some resemblance to that found associated with the Neolithic
objects discovered at Ehenside Tarn, Cumberland1-, now in the British
Museum. It is, perhaps, more closely like some of the pottery from
the Swiss Lake-Dwellings and the Neolithic sites of France. There is
one fragment among those from Hullbridge which particularly points to a
10 Some Prehistoric Camping Grounds near Brighton. Proc. Brighton and Hove Nat.
Hist. and Phil. Soc. 1902.
11 Pigmy Flint Instruments. Proc. Brighton and Hove Nat. Hist, and Phil. Soc., 1907
12 Archaeologia, vol. XLIV., pp. 273-292.