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Archived News ~ Week ending Friday 13th February 2004.
Prehistoric Flint Finds from Nosterfield
Since 1998 over 400 flint artefacts have been found during archaeological work at Nosterfield Quarry. Analysis of this material by specialist Peter Rowe has shown that they represent the production, use, and maintenance of stone tools at the site from the Mesolithic through to the Bronze Age (see Flint report, 2004).
The flint can be divided up into four groups: blades, flakes (which are similar to blades, but smaller), cores (the large pieces of flint from which blades and flakes had been struck), and debitage (waste from the production of flint tools). Most of the material from the site is represented by flakes and debitage. This material is very difficult date with precision, but does show that tools were being produced on the site during the prehistoric period.
Flint waste & debitage
78 flint artefacts from the site have been classed as tools, and reveal something of the activities that were taking place in the area during prehistory. A Mesolithic date has been ascribed to a small group of flint artefacts from the site, including a number of microliths and a microburin. Microliths are small flint artefacts, sometimes blade-like, and sometimes worked into triangular shapes that would have been used as barbs and tips for arrowheads and spears. The microburin represents waste from the production of these barbs or spear tips. Traditionally, Mesolithic populations are thought to have been hunter gatherers, and these stone tools are likely to have been used to make the projectiles used for hunting.
Two arrowheads (one a crude example, and one a more classic leaf shaped arrowhead) found at Nosterfield might also provide evidence for hunting at the site in later periods. These tools post-date the microliths. They were first developed in the Neolithic, but continued in use into the Bronze Age.
Leaf shaped arrowhead
The most common group of tools found at Nosterfield are scrapers, examples of which come in many different forms. Some are flakes that have been retouched, others have a more elongated shape, whilst some smaller examples are described as 'thumbnail’ or 'button’ scrapers. Most of the tools were found to have damaged edges, and some had been re-trimmed to extend their life. It appears that these tools were well used, and maintained, at the site. Some were obviously of particular importance. This is demonstrated by one fine example, created from a high-quality, translucent brown flint. The tool is very gracile in shape, and would obviously have required a considerable investment from its maker/owner both in terms of the quality of the material employed and the sophistication of production. The tools were probably used in the removing and cleaning of hides. A piercing tool found at the site might also have been used for processing and working leather.
End scraper
A 'fabricator’ was also recovered during archaeological work. How these tools were used is not particularly well understood, but suggestions for their function include 'strike-a-lights’ and leatherworking tools. The battered, well worn edges of the fabricator show that it enjoyed a long period of use, and is likely to date to the Neolithic.
Fabricator
Possible evidence of some form of ritual activity was also found amongst the assemblage of flint tools. In a small pit, four stone flakes were recovered. These were found be parts of an almost complete stone axe. The axe was made from a grey volcanic tuff, possibly from Cumbria, North Wales or Scotland (petrological analysis will clarify its origin). It is possible that the axe was shattered deliberately and then buried in the pit. Another, apparently deliberately broken, polished hand axe was found in a pit, part of a pit alignment excavated at Nosterfield during 1995-6. It is particularly interesting that one of the known parallels for this tool comes from the Mayburgh henge, near Penrith in Cumbria.
Stone hand axe
A full range of stone tool types has been found in the Nosterfield area, which was probably used by local populations for hunting, working hides or preparing food. These tools were being produced, used and maintained in the area, and provide substantial evidence for a human presence from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age.