N049 – Neolithic Sanding / Grinding Stone

The Neolithic British Isles refers to the period of British, Irish and Manx history that spanned from c. 4000 to c. 2,500 BCE. The final part of the Stone Age in the British Isles, it was a part of the greater Neolithic, or “New Stone Age“, across Europe.

Humans first settled down and began farming. They continued to make tools and weapons from flint. Some tools stayed the same from earlier periods in history, such as scrapers for preparing hides.

But the Neolithic also saw the introduction of new stone tool. First there was a movement away from using microliths to make spears and arrows as composite weapons and instead the universal adoption of flint arrow heads. 

  Neolithic tools were often retouched all over, by pressure flaking, giving a characteristic appearance and were often laboriously polished, again giving them a distinctive look.

Pottery also developed in this period and there are examples of Neolithic Pottery recorded in this collection


Neolithic Sanding / Grinding Stone

Provenance – Found near the River Ter Valley, Chelmsford, Essex

Description – This grey/brown stone tool has been taken from the core of a large pebble and is flat on two sides, Both of which were most likely used to work with. Although the largest flat surface has most likely been used more as the opposite side sits well in your hand and looks less used.

Markings appear on this pebble, but not as clear as many of the other grinding tools in the collection.

there is damage to the largest flat surface.

Size – 10.6 cm x 4.5 cm

Weight – 335g

Age / Period – Neolithic 4000 BCE – 2500 BCE


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