14
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
of flint is pure geology, and not only outside the scope of
archaeology, but in one sense in opposition to its purpose. On
the other hand, as the application of the study is purely
archaeological, geology has withheld itself from invading this
no-man's-land of unexplored phenomena.
Thus the problem of distinguishing human flaking from
natural that is at the foundation of prehistory "fell between
two stools" and became the Cinderella of Science, casually
cloaked in any rags and tatters of misleading half-knowledge.
But during recent years the "swing of the pendulum" has
definitely set in, and the realities of flaking by natural agencies
are beginning to be better appreciated. Unfortunately this
study and its practical application is far too big a subject to be
discussed here in detail: one can only refer the reader to previous
publications. In fact, the ultimate test can only lie, not in
discussion, but in the first-hand observation of the concrete
material: a study which should be, and usually is, avoided by
those who prefer to think as they wish.
One can more readily give a brief answer to the further
question: can one reasonably suggest a natural agency capable
of making what I frivolously refer to as the "Mermaid
Industry" of the Crag sea-floor? The answer I suggest is as
follows:—
Floating ice, of which there is independent evidence, sliding
and bumping over the floor of the shallow Crag Sea, is fully
adequate to produce all the associated effects, namely striation,
crushing and battering, flaking, and also the re-flaking at
miscellaneous dates that is such an outstanding feature of the
group. I am ready to adopt a better hypothesis, but up to
the moment I am satisfied with the simple manner in which that
explanation focuses every known fact to a single cause.
I would summarise this section by remarking that the
natural flaking of flint is the biggest and worst of all the traps
that are hidden in our path; one cannot hope to escape always;
I have been caught many times, and joined the noble company
of Pickwickians!
There is a particularly insidious danger in commending
ourselves for having an open mind, as this is too often a justifica-
tion for having a mind that is open only one way, namely, to