NHER 10165 (Find Spot record) - Palaeolithic or Neolithic worked flint implement, Fritton (Morningthorpe, poorly located)

Before 1880. Stray Find.
Worked flint object found by H. B. Woodward in the late 19th century. It is recorded in (S1) that it had been picked up "in a field between Boyland Hall and Hempnall, about 3/4 mile west of Hempnall Church, and in the parish of Fritton..." (now part of Morningthorpe parish). This object had previously been exhibited at a meeting of the Norwich Geological Society in December 1879 (S2). This object is almost certainly the reason that "Fritton" is listed in (S3) as a location that had produced Palaeolithic material prior to 1907; (S1) being given as a reference. It is recorded by (S4) that W. G. Clarke's notes suggest he subsequently came to regard this as an error. It is also clearly stated in (S1) that the object had been identified by Dr. J. Evans as being probably Neolithic rather than Palaeolithic, although it is noted that it could have been "…the butt end of a Palaeolithic object".

According to (S3) this implement was (at this time at least), held by the London Geological Museum. It is therefore likely to be the implement from "Boyland" now held by the British Museum (1989,0301.1203), this having previously been part of the Geological Museum's collections. Interestingly this object is recorded in the museum's records as a Palaeolithic handaxe.

The find described above is almost certainly the same object as a "?Palaeo" from "Boyland" that is recorded by (S5) as being from Hempnall (previously NHER 10169) - the references given to (S1) and (S2) being identifical to those on (S4). It is described as having been 1 1/4 inches [3.2cm] thick, abraded and with a recent fracture at one end. It is noted that R. R. Clarke (NCM) regarded this as most likely the end of a Neolithic flint axehead. According to (S5) W. G. Clarke's records contain a letter from (or to) the curator of the Geological Museum regarding this object (with a sketch of the implement).

The locational information given by Woodward for this find suggest that it was found somewhere in the field to the north of Fritton Grange (approximately TM 228 944).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 February 2014.