hich we have already mentioned as one of the
early British towns. Mines had been dug within the walls inclosing the
town. The surface of the ground near the old mines at this place is
literally covered by splinters of flint in every stage of manufacture,
"from the nodule of flint fresh out of the chalk, spoilt by an unlucky
blow, to the article nearly finished and accidentally broken."<27> Here
the flint was mined and chipped into rudimentary shape, but carried away
to be perfected and polished.

A very important place in Neolithic manufactures was noticed near Tours,
France. Here was an abundant supply of flint, and very easily obtained,
and the evidence is conclusive that here existed real manufactories. Of
one stretch of ground, having an area of twelve or fourteen acres, we
are told: "It is impossible to walk a single step without treading
on some of these objects." Here we find "hatchets in all stages of
manufacture, from the roughest attempt up to a perfectly polished
weapon. We find, also, long flakes or flint-knives cleft off with a
single blow with astonishing skill."

But in all these objects there is a defect; so it is concluded that
these specimens were refuse thrown aside in the process of manufacture.
As at Cissbury, very few polished flints are found, so we may conclude
the majority of weapons were carried elsewhere for completion. But some
weapons were completed here. In the neighborhood have been found the
stones used as polishers. This cut shows us one used in polishing the
axes. The workmen would take one of the rough-hewn instruments, and,
rubbing it back and forth on such a stone as this, gradually produced a
smooth surface and a sharpened edge.<28>

Illustration of Polishing Stone.------------

We have suggested that our civilization owes a great deal to flint. If
we will consider the surroundings of their manufacturing sites, we
will see the force of this remark. It must have taxed to the utmost the
powers of these primitive men to sink the shafts and run the galleries
to secure a supply of this valuable stone. In short, they had to invent
the art of quarrying and working mines. This would lead to the division
of labor, for while one body of men would become experts as miners,
others would become skillful in chipping out the implements, and still
others would do the finishing and polishing. A system of barter or trade
would also arise, for the workmen at the mines and factories would have