EXCAVATIONS AT THE GLOBE PIT, GRAYS, ESSEX 203
Hammer stories
Flakes could have been removed by hammerstone or block on
block (anvil) technique. The finding of two hammerstones ap-
pears to support the theory that flakes were removed in the former
manner. Both were found in situ and both were made of flint.
The first (Fig. 2, no. 1) shows signs of considerable battering on
one end only, the rest of the surface being unmarked. It appears
that because of the nature of the material, it tended to break up
and therefore probably became useless after a short time and was
discarded. The second, a flint nodule (Fig. 2, no. 2) again showed
signs of concentrated battering at the one end only, and for the
same reason as before was abandoned as a hammerstone whilst
it was still of use. The other end was later trimmed into a bi-facial
pebble tool possessing a jagged cutting edge.
Core tools or nodule tools
Three tools of this type were found, including the one worked
on the back of a hammerstone just described. These artifacts are
not waste cores obtained from the manufacture of primary flakes,
as the size of the flakes removed was too small for any practical
use. These nodule or core tools were recognised by S. H. Warren
from the type site at Clacton-on-Sea and described as nodule tools.
The other two tools of this type found (Fig. 2, nos. 3-4) were both
made from nodules of flint and possess sharp screwdriver-like
points.
Waste cores
Two waste cores were found. The large biconical core (Fig. 3,
no. 5) was found in the overburden. It is almost mint in con-
dition and appears to have been abandoned because the presence
of a fossil in the centre made the removal of further good flakes
impossible. The other core (Fig. 3, no. 6) is peculiar in shape, the
underside being a reasonable core, whereas the other side has
flakes removed only from one edge, thus leaving a large butt. This
core could be quite comfortably held in the hand and used as a
chopper.
Flakes
Unclassifiable (No Secondary Working)
The majority of the flakes found can come under this heading.
They have no secondary working, but it must be remembered that
the sharpest tools are freshly struck flints. Two flakes (Fig. 3,
nos. 7 and 8) are in mint condition and are probably representative
of what the majority of the other flakes looked like. However,
most have lost their delicate edge by the rolling action in the
gravel.