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The Remains of a Late Glacial Elk Associated with Barbed Points from High Furlong, Near Blackpool, Lancashire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2014

J. S. Hallam ,
B. J. N. Edwards ,
B. Barnes  and
A. J. Stuart
J. S. Hallam
Affiliation:
47 Moss Lane, Hesketh Bank, Preston
B. J. N. Edwards
Affiliation:
County Archaeologist, Lancashire Record Office, Preston
B. Barnes
Affiliation:
Bolton Institute of Technology
A. J. Stuart
Affiliation:
Geology Department, University of Manchester
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Summary

In July 1970, the complete skeleton of a male elk (Alces alces L.) was discovered at Poulton-le-Fylde in a series of aquatic deposits. Uncontrolled excavation recovered most of the skeleton and part of a barbed bone or antler point of ‘Star Carr’ Proto-Maglemosian appearance. Subsequent investigation recovered the remainder of the skeleton and part of a second barbed point, all in situ. These lay in an organic detritus mud which pollen analysis has shown to belong to Zone II of the conventional NW European sequence, assigned to the Allerød Interstadial. The date is therefore likely to lie between 1000 and 2500 years earlier than that of Star Carr.

Study of the bones showed at least 17 lesions, of which 3 were probably made some weeks before the animal died. The remainder were probably approximately coincident with death. These lesions were of types which implied the existence of sharp, hard-pointed projectiles (? flint-tipped arrows) and chopping blades (? axes). They were almost exclusively on limb-bones and ribs. The death had occurred in winter, both antlers having a splinter of pedicle attached, and the animal had evidently escaped butchery to die in a pool. The finds have been placed in the Harris Museum Art Gallery, Preston, by the owners Mr and Mrs J. Divine.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 39 , December 1973 , pp. 100 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1973

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