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Date: | Tue, 28 Jul 1998 06:46:13 +0100 |
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In message <[log in to unmask]>, Anne Stolla <[log in to unmask]>
writes
>A question on the subject of building materials --- I've just returned from a
>short visit to France where spent most of my time focused on palaeolithic caves
>and stone tools. Naturally I spent alot of time looking at wonderful objects
>made from what the French call "silex." Having the image of silex handaxes
>still fresh in mind, I also visited the English town of Canterbury and was
>surprised to find there original walls faced with what looked for all the world
>like debitage. I was told they call these walls "flints." They are attractive,
>a mottled charcoal grey or black and quite sharp to touch---I imagine nasty to
>climb. Is someone out there familiar with flint wall construction? Please
>forgive my California-born ignorance -- are there such structures in the U.S.?
>Couldn't help wondering if the flints used might have--inadvertantly?--included
>prehistoric flint artifacts. Any known cases of this?
>
In Britain, flint is used as a building material in areas poor in other
stone. It is typically used with brick quoins, window cills, etc, as it
cannot be given a straight face. Sometimes the infilling is a pattern
with brick. the glistening dark grey/black of the flint face, contrasts
beautifully (to my eye) with the dull dark or bright red of the brick.
Best wishes,
--
Pat Reynolds
[log in to unmask]
"It might look a bit messy now, but just you come back in 500 years time"
(T. Pratchett)
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