Saveock Water Archaeology

Interim Flint Report 2005

Report on flint found on the site by Kristian Pederson

- Danish 'Mesolithic' Specialist

Abstract

This report describes the collection of twenty-nine worked pieces of flint recovered during the excavations at Saveock, in Cornwall. A disproportionate number of blades were occur on the site vis-à-vis debitage; furthermore, all the debitage derives from the secondary phase of working. As no primary debitage is present, this suggests that the initial reduction sequences occurred elsewhere. The blades are largely narrow, which agrees well with the microlithic armatures based on narrow blades. This assemblage is therefore likely to belong to the later Mesolithic, although a more precise date cannot be advanced on this basis of the lithic assemblage alone.

Introduction

The lithic collection from Saveock in Cornwall comprises twenty-nine pieces of worked flint. Only two of these artefacts are formal tools, both narrow blade microlithic armatures. The remaining pieces in this collection consist of debitage. All these, however, are secondary pieces of lithic waste—no primary waste occurs in this collection. Moreover, the flint does not seem to derive from a single source as there is considerable variation within this collection with respect to colour and texture.

Artefact Description

The collection contains a disproportionate number of blades and blade fragments vis-à-vis debitage. Most of the blades, as far as could be ascertained inasmuch that some were broken, were relatively narrow. Moreover, they were made principally on two types of flint: firstly, a dark- or medium-grey flint; secondly, a light-grey flint. Both are of good quality, and there was no reason to favour one above the other for the production of tools. The two microlithic armatures are also based on narrow-blades (28, 29), and therefore these diagnostic tools agree with the material in the remainder of the assemblage.

Artefact	Type	Description	Sequence	Burnt
1	Debitage	A small block of dark flint showing signs of working on all faces. Indications of crushing are also visible. Some negative blade facets also occur.	2	No
2	Debitage	A small piece of light-grey flint debitage, probably burnt.	2	Yes
3	Blade Fragment	A broad blade fragment, broken towards its distal end. Scars from preceding blade removals are apparent. The flint is light-grey. The platform does not have a pronounced lip, so there is no indication of indirect percussion.	2	No
4	Blade	A narrow blade produced on mid- to light-grey flint. Some of the cortex remains on the blade, but there are scars of previous blade removals. An éraillure scar occurs on the bulb of percussion, and a pronounced lip occurs at the platform.	2	No
5	Blade	A small blade produced on light-grey flint. Its distal end is broken. No lip could be detected on the platform.	2	No
6	Debitage	An angular piece of debitage, bearing cortex. Possibly a rejuvenation flake.	2	No
7	Debitage	A fragment of dark flint, possibly from a blade. Scars from previous working are apparent.	2	No
8	Blade	A blade fragment made on dark grey flint; both the distal and proximal ends are missing. Scars from previous working are apparent.	2	No
9	Debitage	Small fragment of dark flint, bearing cortex.	2	No
10	Debitage	Light-grey flint, possibly a blade fragment. Signs from previous working are apparent.	2	No
11	Debitage	Light-grey flint, with a rolled edge.	2	No
12	Blade	Blade fragment produced on light-grey flint. The proximal end is broken.	2	No
13	Blade	Blade fragment produced on light-grey flint. The proximal end is broken.	2	No
14	Blade	Blade fragment produced on light-grey flint. The proximal end is broken.	2	No
15	Debitage	Coarse flint fragment of debitage, showing signs of previous working.	2	No
16	Debitage	Dark flint, with cortex. Bulb of percussion is present, but there are no indications of indirect percussion as there is no pronounced lip, nor is there any crushing of the platform.	2	No
17	Debitage	A grainy type of light-grey flint. Some of the cortex remains attached.	2	No
18	Debitage	Light-grey flint with cortex. Amorphous piece, but there are indications of previous working.	2	No
19	Debitage	Possibly a blade fragment produced on light-grey flint. Both the distal and proximal ends are missing.	2	No
20	Blade	A blade fragment produced on a light, or cream coloured, flint. Some cortex remains, and the distal and proximal ends are broken.	2	No
21	Debitage	Coarse flint fragment of debitage, showing signs of previous working.	2	No
22	Debitage	Flint fragment of debitage, showing signs of previous working.	2	No
23	Blade	Blade fragment produced on light-grey flint. The lip on the platform is pronounced, suggesting indirect percussion.	2	No
24	Blade	Large blade fragment produced on medium- to light-grey flint. The distal end is missing.	2	No
25	Debitage	Coarse flint fragment of debitage, showing signs of previous working. Some of the cortex remains.	2	No
26	Debitage	Coarse flint fragment of debitage, showing signs of previous working..	2	No
27	Blade	Small blade produced on medium- to dark-grey flint. The bulb of percussion is present, but no lip could be detected on the platform.	2	No
28	Microlith	A narrow microlithic armature. This conforms in shape to a backed-microlith.	3	No
29	Microlith	A narrow microlithic armature. This conforms in shape to a backed-microlith. Possibly modified into an awl.	3	No

Discussion

The narrow blade microlithic armatures suggests that this assemblage belongs to the Late Mesolithic. All the blades were also quite narrow, which accords well with the microlithic armatures. No evidence of primary working of the flint is present in this assemblage; the flint was probably transported to the site already manufactured into tools or blanks that required only moderate retouch. Moreover, there is no indication of burning which indicates that the flint working was undertaken away from hearths.