At 11:30 05/11/2011, M J Shaw wrote:
>I have been trying to establish the earliest example of the use or
>mining of coal in the UK. Wikipedia contains an un-referenced
>statement on the matter which is repeated on a number of websites
>and had by a public authority 'introduction to coal mining' site become
>'It is documented that Stone Age man dug for coal for flint axes
>have been found still embedded in the layers of coal, in the
>Derbyshire, Monmouth region.'
>I am not entirely convinced of the accuracy of this but have failed
>to find anything better on-line, can anyone point me to a reliable
>source on this matter.
Mike,
Whilst I have no references to hand on the finding of flint axes in
coal seams, I am aware that coal was used for decoration in the Early
Bronze Age. A quick search found the following - Investigating jet
and jet-like artefacts from prehistoric Scotland: the National
Museums of Scotland project, by Alison Sheridan, Mary Davis, Iain
Clark, Hal Redvers-Jones, Antiquity, September 2002, but I'm sure I
have seen something published more recently than that date.
Peter
Dr Peter Claughton,
Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. +44 (0)1437 532578; Fax. +44 (0)1437 532921; Mobile +44 (0)7831 427599
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