Pattern in diversity; Grime’s Grave and Krzemionki, understanding commonality in flint mining across Europe

Across Europe, in the late 19th century, deep-flint mines dating to the Neolithic period were discovered. Since their discovery, it has been noted that the mines, located many kilometres apart, share common traits. Despite these connections, little research has compared the pan-European mining phenomenon. It is beyond this paper to review the numerous European mines, rather, two sites will be detailed: Krzemionki, southeast Poland, and Grime’s Grave, eastern England. The comparison of these two prehistoric mines, located c. 1500km apart, expands knowledge of a mining methodology likely to have started in the mid-5th millennium BCE and spreadacross Europe, becoming associated with large and enduring complexes.