Grimes Graves

by Peter Topping

Published 13 January 2004
Grime's Graves were the first Neolithic flint mines to be recognized as such in England. The shallow depressions - over 400 in all - that create such a mysterious, lunar-like landscape, represent the infilled shafts and pits of these mines, which were dug about 5,000 years ago. Here, prehistoric miners extracted the fine quality, jet-black flint from which they fashioned tools, weapons and ceremonial objects. This guidebook provides a tour of Grime's Graves and explains the history of this extraordinary site from the Neolithic Age to the present day.