Artefacts

Almost all the artefacts found were flint, as the acidic local soils had destroyed the majority of other evidence.

Substantial amounts of flint were probably collected from a shingle beach or river bed. Smaller quantities were collected from screes at the foot of chalk cliffs, a few removed from the chalk itself. Most would have been gathered from within 10km of the site, probably at either Portrush or Downhill.

Core stones were brought to the site to be worked into blades or axes by flint-knapping. Because of scarcity of flint in the immediate area, many cores had been reworked to the point of exhaustion. The largest numbers of examples were microliths, tiny blades several of which could be mounted in a wooden shaft and used as an arrow or cutting tool. There were also core axes, flake axes, picks, borers and scrapers.

The range of blades and the implications of their role in a range of woodworking activities illustrate best the number of activities carried out on site. Many were stained and showed traces of wood and hide polish. It should be remembered that fishing communities tended to use more complex equipment that would leave little trace e.g. fish traps, net, canoes, paddles, fish hooks etc.

There was also good evidence that the site continued to be used into the Neolithic period. Neolithic finds included flints, handmade pottery, a net sinker, glass beads and a spindle whorl.