Ancient House Museum of Thetford LifeCharles Burrell MuseumChurch of the Holy SepulchreEuston HallGrime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint MineIceni Brewery and Hop GardenNWT Weeting HeathThetford PrioryThetford Warren Lodge
Grime's Graves is the only Neolithic flint mine open to visitors in Britain. A grassy lunar landscape of over 400 shafts, pits, quarries and spoil dumps, they were first named Grim's Graves - meaning the pagan god Grim's quarries, or 'the Devil's holes' - by the Anglo- Saxons. It was not until one of them was excavated in 1870 that they were found to be flint mines dug over 5,000 years ago, during the later Neolithic and early Bronze Ages. What the prehistoric miners sought here was the fine quality jet-black flint 'floorstone', which occurs some nine metres below surface level. This was prized as an easily 'knapped' material for axes and other tools - and much later elsewhere for well-sparking musket flints. Digging with red-deer antler picks, they sank shafts from which radiated gallery-tunnels, following the seams of flint. Today visitors can descend 9 metres (30 ft) by ladder into one excavated shaft an unforgettable experience. The small exhibition area illustrates the history of this fascinating site. Set amid the distinctive Breckland heath landscape,Grime's Graves is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the home of a wide variety of plants and fauna.
No Comments Yet - Why not be the first to leave a comment
Every effort is made to make sure that all the information is correct but we strongly recommend that you call Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine before you set off on your day out to confirm opening times and admission prices.
Please also note that the position on Google maps for Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine is a rough estimate using their postcode in the database and might be slightly out.
It may also be worth clicking the web link for Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine to see if there are any special events coming up or currently on.
