Flint Country

Laurence Mitchell uncovers the stories that flint has to tell us in this celebratory journey through the natural and cultural history of the stone. Beneath the bands of chalk that cover the UK lies flint, a mineral that has shaped our landscape, history and heritage. Flint Country tells the story of this abundant resource’s formation, what we can learn from its fossil records, and how it has been worked with and prized through millennia – from our prehistoric and ancient ancestors through to the present day. Formed over 80 million years ago in ancient sea beds, flint was crucial for early humans, empowering them to hunt, craft, and survive. Far more than simply a building block, this “glass of the stone age” fuelled innovation and became the cornerstone of the industrial and architectural heritage of our chalk regions: Roman engineers blended it with brick to construct roads and fortifications; medieval masons transformed it into dazzling flushwork, iconic landmarks and sculptures; and countless farmers and villagers built cottages of local flint. Whether it is thanks to the seismic geological events that have shaped our landscape, the material we rely on for our homes, or simply the joy of picking up pebbles on the beach, this book shows how flint continues to be a touchstone in our lives. 

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