In the late 19th century, the famous antiquarian and collector W.J. Knowles found a remarkable collection of 34 pointed flakes in a drain in the townland of Urbal, Mosside near Ballymoney in Northern Ireland. Dating to the Later Mesolithic, they are of significant importance as they have a classic broad Bann flake shape, and are all roughly the same size. Bann Flake is the term given to large leaf-shaped points that were used for spears, commonly found in the River Bann area. Later Mesolithic people made fishing tridents using a Bann Flake on the tip of each prong. The trident was thrust into the water and the fish was caught on the prongs.
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