The Lithics section of the Prehistoric Group has recently reviewed a collection of flints made by Anne Bowey from this location. Mrs Bowey learnt to recognise worked flints during her participation at the dig of Weston Wood which was directed by Joan Harding.  This collection was checked by one of Mrs Bowey’s old pupils at Woking Girl’s Grammar School, the archaeologist and historian Joy Verrinder of Carisbrooke Castle Museum, IoW.

The flints were collected from St. Martha’s East side which is an area well known to have been rich in finds from many periods. The SSHER contains a number of references to Mesolithic , Neolithic and Bronze Age flints as well as Iron Age and Medieval remains.

This collection represents a typical selection of flintwork found on St. Martha’s Hill. It is comprised of 65 flakes, 11 blades, 1 broken piercer, 2 cores, 1 axe/adze, 1 scraper and 2 leaf arrowheads: all are of Mesolithic/Neolithic date and have been recorded on the PAS website (SUR-0F40E6).

Thanks are due to the members of the Lithics section who confirmed the identification of this small group of tools and flakes. For any further information about its activities contact Jen Newell at janewell@talktalk.net(link sends e-mail) or Rose Hooker at rosemary.hooker@blueyonder.co.uk(link sends e-mail) or leave a message at Castle Arch.

Rose Hooker