Some natural surface modifications on flint in the Netherlands

Abstract

(p. 40)

In this paper a brief description is given of a number of natural surface modifications on flint, with reference to their occurrence on Palaeolithic material and on flints naturally present in boulder-sand. Boulder-sand is a residual sediment of boulder-clay (ground moraine from the penultimate glacial period). Middle-Palaeolithic finds from the Northern Netherlands probably originate from boulder-sand, considering, among other things, their natural surface modifications.

These surface modifications are dscribed with the foliowing aim mainly in view, namely to ascertain the extent to which these alterations prevent or complicate the study of traces of use. In the first place, some of these surface modifications can resemble traces of use to some extent; in such cases an attempt is made to formulate criteria to distinguish between them. In the second place, any traces of use which may have been present can be wholly or partly obliterated as a result of these surface modification processes.

It is concluded that most of the Middle Palaeolithic flints found in the Netherlands have been considerably affected by various surface modification processes, and are therefore unsuitable for a valid study of traces of use. It is important that whenever a study is being made of traces of use, the possibility of the presence of natural features should be thoroughly investigated.