This handaxe was brought to the Lithics Studies Society's Conference at Knights Hill by Mr Jack Grasse, in order that it could be photographed and recorded, and it has since been returned to the safe hands of it's present keeper, Mr Peter Dewey. This item was initially given to the Landlord of the Mundford Crown Inn, by one of the Lynford quarry employees in the early 1970's. Typologically it fits the description of 'Acheulian', but with regard to facet and edge-wear, it's condition resembles the general appearance of the out of context Mousterian artefacts that have subsequently been retrieved from the gravel system. White patination, although less common at Lynford, is by no means unknown; see flake 3 on this page.
The four artefacts below, were all found at Lynford on Sunday, 3rd April 2005
Flake core.
This core is a fine example of the style of flake core that has come from the Lynford gravel system in years past, and these out of context cores are now as abundant as the handaxes that have been found in similar situations. It is not surprising that none of these were unearthed during the 2002 excavation, as the original manufacturing areas had probably been eroded and transported into the gravel system along with much more manufacturing debitage during the early part of the final phase of gravel deposition. Three more fine examples of middle-palaeolithic debitage can be seen in the pictures below.
Flake 1
Flake 2
Flake 3
Delegates of the Lithic Studies Society are grouped at the entrance to Greenwell's pit, Grime's Graves.
After a magnificent introduction given by David McOmish, (Senior Archaeological Investigator, English Heritage), to the current progress and events concerning recent research at Grime's Graves, delegates of the Lithics Studies Society were all allowed to explore the galleries of Canon Greenwell's Pit.
See below: David Lane from Guernsey, just before he disappeared for the rest of the afternoon.
The base of Canon Greenwell's pit, Grime's Graves.
