File:Late Palaeolithic Point (FindID 570024).jpg

English: Complete partly bifacial leaf point in unpatinated light mottled grey flint with minor iron staining. Neatly shaped with selective invasive percussion on both proximal and distal ends and both faces to form a symmetrical leaf form. The central section of the dorsal face is left un-retouched and shows the form of the blank which appears to be struck from a bi-polar core. The rear part of the dorsal face has been invasively thinned for hafting, so much so that one flake scar near the base has overshot (outrepasse flake) right to the other side. The ventral face is un-retouched from mid point to the proximal end. The platform has been removed by further retouch.

This artefact closely resembles the leaf points described by Jacobi 2007, and may therefore be from the Early Upper Palaeolithic. This dates immediately prior to the last Glaciation, a period for which there is very little evidence of human presence in south eastern England.

Jacobi also lists a similar point from Drayton (H.E.R. record unknown.) Which may be in the collections of the Norwich Castle Museum, and another example was recorded from Repps with Bastwick (H.E.R. 51193) in 2008, although this may be of Early Neolithic date as it is rather short and thin. Butler (2005) lists Early Upper Palaeolithic leaf shaped points as being "normally between 100-150mm long."

The proximity to the river may be significant as most Upper Palaeolithic material is recovered from near rivers and this may reflect hunting or other activities practised at the time. In the case of the Early Upper Palaeolithic this material may have been washed there by the retreating ice at the end of the last Glaciation

Dimensions: 116.5 x 38 x 13mm.