4. Early Man

We cannot say exactly when man made his first appearance in our district. He first lived on the moors near the Hitchingstone. Of his early conditions we know little. When we first have definite proof of him he had reached a comparatively high standard of culture. Several flint weapons, arrow heads, spear heads, scrapers and other tools, have been found on the moors by local men and women interested in the study of pre-historic remains.

Although we know so little about these early men, we know that they must have had great sill and even greater patience. Anyone now-a-days who tries to make even a rough weapon from flint, by knocking it with a stone, is soon discouraged. Having attempted this, we realise what hours and hours of patient labour must have in the production of tools of such exquisite workmanship, as those found on our moors.

When once he had made such a tool, it would probably be one of man's most valuable possessions. He would surely be very careful, and try to recover it after use. The arrow heads would probably be fastened by the shaft to a piece of wood. This would be thrown forcibly at the prey. We can easily see how difficult hunting would be, with only this small weapon, and large stones, to help in killing the animal.

The moors at his period were densely wooded. In one place where a stream has cut deeply into the peat, the trunks on trees may be seen in rows in the peat. The stretches of peat on the moor, which are now cut for fuel, would be formed from the decaying of these forests.