Grimes Graves

Neolithic (New Stone Age) flint mines near Weeting, Norfolk, England. They were a major source of material for flint implements such as axes or other tools, where fresh, large pieces of flint were required. The mine shafts were sunk 6–9 m/20–30ft into the chalk, and galleries were tunnelled from them along the seams of flint. It is estimated that 28 million flint axes could have been produced.

The mines were sunk through topstone, chalk, wallstone, and further chalk to reach best-quality flint in the floorstone layer, a feat that suggests complex organization. Exhausted galleries were backfilled with rubble from new workings.

Similar mines have been found in other chalk areas of England such as the South Downs; in northwestern Europe, such as Grand Pressigny, France, and Spiennes, Belgium; and in central Europe, such as Kremionki, Poland; and flint was widely traded over long distances. Most Neolithic flint, however, was picked up from the surface.