Britain's Prehistoric Flint Exports

I was watching this interesting documentary on South Downs flint when at 6 minutes is says trade routes meant in Neolithic times British flint tools were being traded as far as Pakistan. I found this quite amazing and would love to learn more if anyone has any information.

well, i understand that polish flint tools have been found here in the uk. i thought that this was strange untill i saw a knife from this particular variety - it was like the flint equivilant of rainbow obsidian (only in blacks and greys) and must have been a powerful status symbol at the very least.

i have looked for the pic a few times since then and not found it (meh) but i did trace the source of the stone..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzemionki

i have some former colleagues who returned to poland recently, at some point i'll hit them up for some help in getting some, but my "i need to do this at some point in the future" list is oppressively large!

i was chatting to a friend about this recently though, about how prehistoric travel and trade was far wider and easier than most would assume. given how european prehistoric art (and therefore the ability to show affinity with other tribes, towns and regions) was so similar and widespread; and the fact that when you hunt and forage in a region that is not over exploited you dont have to expend that much effort doing it; it becomes easier to imagine folk walking from the uk to central europe in a few weeks, and the idea of items travelling from village to village over a continent through many hands is a simple one.

after all, some cave-dude would be unlikely to carry raw nodules over hundreds of miles, but would surely transport preforms instead, would no doubt have some kind of pack animal (or possibly human assistance, willing or otherwise), and the rewards of what ever kind would no doubt be well worth it

just google image'd "polish banded flint"

give it a try, it's a treat

Me too stunning....