Implements from a Station at Cranwich, Norfolk

Abstract

During the last year or two I have obtained some 1262 flint implements of varying types and patinas from a small area of the parish of Cranwich in South-West Norfolk. The implements may with comparative ease be divided into three groups according to patina, white, blue, and black, the last-named including those having miscellaneous colourings that are neither blue nor white, or with no appreciable patina. According to these divisions I have 351 white, 268 blue, 604 black and 12 implements with totally different patinas on the two sides.The white patinated implements are found on a rich loam on which water rests in wet weather. This is only from four to eight inches thick, and the subsoil is locally known as “cobbles chalk,” that is, chalk broken into small lumps by glacial action. These lumps are about the size of plums quite white, and in a foot or so pass into undisturbed chalk. The blue patinated implements are mainly found on a sandy area resting on chalk, and the black on a sand and gravel area with chalk as the subsoil, though a few hollows are filled with chalky boulder clay. On the sandy area the surface soil is somewhat deeper, averaging from nine inches to a foot.