Grime's Graves, Neolithic flint mine in Weeting-with-Broomhill, England
Grime's Graves is a Neolithic flint mine in Weeting-with-Broomhill, northeastern England. The site spreads across fields marked by hundreds of shallow depressions, each marking a shaft that once reached deep underground.
Between 2600 and 2300 BCE, communities dug the shafts to reach high-quality flint for making tools. The mine remained in operation for centuries, supplying material across wide regions.
Archaeological discoveries at the site include red deer antler picks, wooden tools, and artifacts suggesting the presence of ritual practices within certain mine shafts.
English Heritage manages the site and offers guided tours that allow visitors to climb down into selected shafts. Access involves ladders, so sturdy footwear and reasonable mobility are needed.
Archaeologists found red deer antler picks in some shafts, used as digging tools by the miners. In one shaft, they also discovered a small chalk figurine, possibly connected to rituals performed underground.
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