An Animistic Implement of “Cissbury Type”

Abstract

While searching the well known “Cissbury” site at Ringland (Vide Proc. P. S. E. A., Vol. 1, pp. 340–1, Vol. 2, pp. 340–1, 145–151) in December last, I found a white Cone with a natural base 1½ inches by 1¼ inches, formed by a line of cleavage in the flint.On one side the implement has a flat face 4 inches in length by I¾ inches in width. The other face is convex, and has been formed by the removal of eight flakes, six of these extending for a distance of 2½ inches leaving I½ inches on which the cortex of the flint remains. In ordinary circumstances this portion would have been removed by a transverse blow in order to form the top of the cone, but the natural peculiarities of the flint led to its retention and further retouching in order to form a representation of an animal. A natural hole and protuberance, associated with the formation of the flint as a ventriculite, were in the proper position for an eye, and the removal of part of the cortex revealed the inner rind so as to form a pupil.