Blue Bridge Lane
&
Fishergate House
Printed from the APC web site: navigation and non-essential images removed.
Please view on-line for full content (URL at end of document).
An assemblage of 86 lithic artefacts was recovered during excavation at Blue Bridge (76 items) and Fishergate House, York (10 items). The following variables have been catalogued: raw material type; raw material colour; percentage of cortex; cortex type; percentage patina; type of artefact (e.g. flake, blade, core); interpretation (e.g. scraper, arrowhead); period; dimensions; method of knapping; burning; damage.
The raw material from the two excavations shares similar characteristics and both sites are discussed together to avoid repetition. The material is almost entirely composed of knapped flint.
The flint is fairly homogenous in character and other than a few red-brown pieces consists of grey or light brown items often with a range of different shades within one piece. The flint becomes opaque on finer flakes and is of a good quality with few flaws or fossils. Cortex is present on much of the primary knapping debris and natural pebbles. Where this is present it is worn from glacial or water action and is extremely thin in section. The majority of the collection is consistent with the exploitation of small pebbles from glacial or coastal deposits for raw material. However there are a number of pieces from Blue Bridge that are evidently knapped from larger imported nodules (e.g. Find nos 4251 to 3, and 4257).
The material has little post-depositional damage. There is no evidence of thermal shattering from freezing or edge damage caused by movement in the soil. A number of the pieces in the assemblage have extreme patina development. In these instances the original colour of the flint is completely masked by a white, cream or yellow patina. In one case an item from Blue Bridge has become uniformly patinated and has then been re-worked at a later point in prehistory (Find no 302) with retouch scars breaking the surface patina. This phenomenon is also seen on one piece from Fishergate House (Find no 997).
The majority of the assemblage consists of small flakes or pieces of angular debitage (Table 1). These vary in size from minute chips to struck pieces from large nodules. There is a single core (Find no 4276) based on a well-worked pebble of grey-brown flint. It has three striking platforms, two opposed and one at 90 degrees. The core has served to produce small blade and flake removals.
Core, artefact 4276
| Type | Quantity | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Blades (or blade fragments) | 3 | 4 |
| Cores | 1 | 2 |
| Debitage | 25 | 36 |
| Irregular burnt pieces | 2 | 2 |
| Flakes | 39 | 56 |
| Total | 70 | 100 |
In its most basic form, retouch has been used to modify the edge of a blade or flake (Find nos 302, 4261 and 4262). There are a further three pieces with edge damage consistent with that occasioned by use (Find nos 4248, 4264 and 4292).
A triangular point with bifacial working (Find no 4289) was recovered from C2209. This is based on a flake of high quality dark brown flint. This item is difficult to classify with any certainty but has morphological similarities to both later Neolithic arrowhead forms and more ubiquitous piercing tools. Regardless of function the invasive pressure flaked retouch suggests a date from the later Neolithic or early Bronze Age.
Projectile, artefact 4289
Two scrapers were recovered from the excavation. Find no 4291 is an unstratified edge scraper, with notch, based on a large flake. This well-worn and deeply patinated item, with marked lack of symmetry, is potentially from the Mesolithic or early Neolithic period. The second scraper (Find no 4275) is a robust thumbnail scraper consistent with a date from the early Bronze Age.
 |
|
| Scraper, artefact 4291 | Scraper, artefact 4275 |
| Tool Type | Quantity | Find no. |
|---|---|---|
| Retouched pieces | 4 | 302, 4261, 4262, 4289 |
| Scrapers | 2 | 4275, 4291 |
| Utilised pieces | 3 | 4248, 4264, 4292 |
| Total | 9 |
This small assemblage of 10 items from Fishergate House is unusual given the high proportion of worked or utilised pieces. Discounting two natural pebble fragments the collection comprises 3 pieces of unworked debitage, 4 retouched pieces and one utilised flake (Find no. 1001).
C1317 produced two worked items of flint. One is a squat flake with battered edges (Find no. 992); the second is the proximal end of a narrow blade (Find no. 993). There is retouch along both edges of the blade and on one side this has created a shallow notch. This method of notched blade working has strong parallels with microlith manufacture in the Mesolithic period and it is likely that the piece dates to this period.
A second retouched blade (Find no. 997) was recovered from context 1411. This is a robust example with a slight yellow patina to the surface. The retouch scars cut the patina suggesting re-working of previously knapped material by later generations.
The final retouched item is a small flake (Find no. 998) from C1413. Here oblique retouch has been used to sharpen an edge.
 |
 |
 |
| Blade, artefact 993 | Blade, artefact 997 | Flake, artefact 998 |
This small collection demonstrates prehistoric activity on the margins of the Ouse from potentially as early as the Mesolithic period through to the early Bronze Age. Raw materials were probably collected locally from glacial or waterborne deposits with some evidence for the importing of larger nodules (although it is possible that the nodular material from F39 and F58 is from the historic periods, being so out of character with the rest of the assemblage). An expedient alternative to knapping from pebbles was to fashion new tools on previously discarded blanks left by earlier generations. From this small sample it is difficult to draw any conclusions about the nature of prehistoric activity although it is certain that during prehistory lithic tools were manufactured, curated and disposed of in this locality.
Find no 302, F4, C1006, brownish grey flint flake with a brown patina over 90% of the surface area. Re-touched on the right edge. Hard hammer knapping technique used to create it. Dimensions 30mm x 17mm x 5mm.
Find no 4247, F13, C1062, fragment of a natural pebble of grey chert, 25mm in size.
Find no 4248, F13, C1062, grey flint flake. 15% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex. Intended for use, the end of the piece has been worked. Hard hammer knapping technique used to create it. Dimensions 24mm x 31mm x 10mm
Find no 4249, F46, C1147, proximal blade of grey flint. Soft hammer knapping technique used to create it. Dimensions 20mm x 15mm x 4mm
Find no 4250, F43, C1163, grey flint flake with a white patina over 90% of the surface. Dimensions 18mm x 24mm x 2mm
Find no 4251, F39, C1150, brown flint debitage, 70mm in size. 5% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex. Created from a large nodule using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4252, F39, C1150, grey flint debitage, 105 mm in size. 10% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex. Created from a large nodule using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4253, F39, C1150, grey flint debitage, 40 mm in size. 10% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex. Piece shattered from a hit elsewhere on a large nodule of flint.
Find no 4254, F39, C1150, grey flint flake. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique. Dimensions 15mm x 12mm x 2mm.
Find no 4256, F310, C1288, brownish-grey agate debitage, 20mm in size. 50% of the surface is covered with a white cortex.
Find no 4257, F58, C1367, grey flint debitage, 65mm in size. 20% of the surface is covered in a cream cortex. Piece taken from a large nodule of flint.
Find no 4258, F58, C1368, grey flint flake. Dimensions 18mm x 18mm x 8mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique. The right edge has some modern damage.
Find no 4259, C1433, flint blade with a cream patina covering 100 % of the surface. Dimensions 23mm x 10mm x 5mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique. The right edge has some modern damage.
Find no 4261, F252, C1570, brownish-cream flint flake, retouched on the left edge. Dimensions 16mm x 28mm x 4mm.
Find no 4262, C1571, flint flake with a cream patina covering 100% of the surface. Notch at the worked end. Dimensions 26mm x 18mm x 6mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4264, F284, C1649, brownish-red flint flake, intended for use. The left edge has been retouched. Dimensions 28mm x 15mm x 2mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique. A very good quality flint.
Find no 4266, F208, C1765, brown flint debitage, 20mm in size with some cream cortex on the surface. Possibly intended for use. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4267, F77, C1742, brown flint, a fragment from a natural pebble, 30mm in size.
Find no 4268, F77, C1742, grey flint debitage, 20mm in size.
Find no 4269, F208, C1770, irregular burnt piece of flint, 20mm in size with a grey patina over 100% of the surface. The piece has been heavily fired and suffered damage from the heat.
Find no 4270, F381, C1846, grey flint flake with 5% of the surface covered in a cream cortex. Dimensions 35mm x 21mm x 9mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique. Some modern damage to the right edge.
Find no 4272, F396, C1846, brown flint flake with a cream patina to 80% of the surface. Dimensions 17mm x 20mm x 4mm.
Find no 4275, F381, C1836, grey flint flake thumbnail scraper from the early bronze age. 10% of the surface is covered in a cream cortex. Dimensions 31mm x 28mm x 14mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4276, F401, C1902, grey flint core, 5% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex. Dimensions 32mm x 38mm x 21mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4277, C1930, brown flint flake. Dimensions 20mmx 21mm x 8mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4278, F437, C1944, flint blade with a white patina over 100% of the surface. Dimensions 37mm x 11mm x 5mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4279, F381, C2063, grey flint, fragment of a natural pebble, 25mm in size. 50% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex.
Find no 4282, F546, C2176, brown flint debitage, 20mm in size. 50% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex.
Find no 4284, C2205, natural pebble of flint, 55mm in size.50% of the surface has a cream cortex. There is a cream patina over 100% of the surface.
Find no 4285, C2204, brown flint pebble fragment. 40% of the surface is covered with a chalky cream cortex. Dimensions 40mm x 32mm x 15mm
Find no 4289, F555, C2209, brown flint flake with a bifacial point. 5% of the surface is covered with a cream cortex. Neolithic to early Bronze Age. Dimensions 35mm x 16mm x 7mm.
Find no 4280, F474, C2017, flint fragment with a cream patina covering 100% of the surface. Dimensions 24mm x 28mm x 8mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4281, F545, C2177, grey flint debitage, 20mm in size.
Find no 4286, C2205, grey flint flake with a cream cortex over 20% of the surface. Dimensions 32mm x 18mm x 8mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4287, C2205, grey flint debitage, 25mm in size, with 15% of the surface covered with a cream cortex. A piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4288, C2205, flint flake with a cream patina covering 100% of the surface. Dimensions 40mm x 40mm x 12mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4290, U/S, flint flake with a cream patina covering 100% of the surface. Dimensions 45mm x 18mm x 5mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4291, U/S, flint scraper with a cream cortex covering 5% of the surface and a brown patina covering 100% of the surface. Worked at the edges. Possibly Mesolithic. Dimensions 55mm x 41mm x 12mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4292, F351, C2107, reddish-brown flint flake, intended for use with working to the right edge. Dimensions 18mm x 16mm x 3mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4301, F13, C1065, grey flint debitage, 15mm in size. 40% of the surface covered with a cream cortex. A piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4305, F381, C1851, flint, fragment of a natural pebble, 15mm in size, with a cream patina covering 100% of the surface.
Find no 4309, F381, C2063, grey flint flake with 50% of the surface covered with a cortex. Dimensions 17mm x 13mm x 5mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4311, F273, C2096, brown flint debitage, 25mm in size.
Find no 4313, F520, C2129, brown flint flake. Dimensions 19mm x 22mm x 3mm.
Find no 4314, F546, C2201, flint, fragment of a natural pebble, 25mm in size with a cream patina covering 100% of the surface.
Find no 4316, F256, C1574, flint flake with a grey patina covering 100% of the surface. Dimensions 36mm x 17mm x 7mm. The flake has been heavily fired with some damage from the heat.
Find no 4317, F13, C1065, reddish-brown flint flake. Dimensions 12mm x 11mm x 3mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4317, F13, C1065, flint flake with a white patina covering 100% of the surface. Dimensions 16mm x 11mm x 2mm.
Find no 4318, F13, C1147, brown flint debitage flake. Dimensions 11mm x 15mm x 3mm.
Find no 4318, F13, C1147, flint debitage, 15mm in size, with a white patina covering 100% of the surface. Piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4319, F164, C1341, brown flint flake with a white patina over 50% of the surface. Dimensions 12mm x 16mm x 3mm.
Find no 4321, F215, C1436, grey flint debitage, 15mm in size. Piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4322, F225, C1491, flint debitage, 20 mm in size with a white patina over 100% of the surface.
Find no 4324, F218, C1515, brown flint flake. Dimensions 22mm x 16mm x 5mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4324, F218, C1515, irregular burnt piece of flint, 25mm in size, with a white patina over 100% of the surface. It has had medium exposure to heat with some thermal damage.
Find no 4325, F13, C1881, grey flint flake. Dimensions 11mm x 16mm x 4mm. Created using a hard hammer flint knapping technique.
Find no 4326, C2040, flint debitage, 20mm in size with a white patina over 100% of the surface. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4328, F520, C2128, brown fling flake with 45% of the surface covered with a cream, chalky cortex. Dimensions 42mm x 20mm x 6mm. Created using a hard hammer knapping technique. Possible burination (fabricating) attempt.
Find no 4504, F13, C1061, 2 pieces of brown flint debitage, 10mm in size. Pieces shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4505, F216, C1707, brown flint debitage, 5mm in size. Piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4505, F216, C1707, brown flint flake. Dimensions 6mm x 5mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4505, F216, C1707, brown flint debitage, 10mm in size, with 10% of the surface covered with a cream cortex. Piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4506, F13, C1147, brown flint flake. Dimensions 5mm x 4mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4507, F353, C1449, brown flint debitage, 5mm in size. Piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4508, F381, C2063, brown flint flake. Dimensions 7mm x 7mm x 2mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4509, F252, C1571, brown flint flake. Dimensions 4mm x 7mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4510, F458, C2041, brown flint flake, with a white patina covering 30% of the surface. Dimensions 12mm x 5mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4511, F381, C2054, brown flint flake. Dimensions 4mm x 5mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4512, F150, C1334, brown flint debitage, 5mm in size. Piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 4513, F520, C2128, brown flint flake. Dimensions 11mm x 6mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4514, C2195, brown flint flake. Dimensions 8mm x 6mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 4515, F253, C1569, grey flint flake. Dimensions 7mm x 4mm x 1mm. Created using a soft hammer knapping technique.
Find no 6121, F198, C1442, flint debitage, 20mm in size with a white patina covering 100% of the surface. Piece shattered from a strike elsewhere on the flint.
Find no 6121, F198, C1442, flint debitage, 15mm in size with a white patina covering 100% of the surface.
see also:
apc > monographs > blue bridge lane & fishergate house > artefacts & environmental > lithics
