In this paper we review evidence for long blade technology in southern Britain. In particular we
consider the distinctive patterns of distribution of these sites, which are often preferentially located in the
floodplains of river valleys and near good flint sources. As these lithic assemblages typically contain relatively
few tools it has been hypothesised that they represent only a partial picture of human uses of the Late Glacial
landscape. Amongst the present suggestions are that such localities were principally workshop sites where
blades were manufactured for later use, and/or that they served a special function related to horse and reindeer
butchery. To test these ideas further we re-examine the question of variability in long blade assemblages and
how this might be reflected in their topographic positioning. We consider such questions as: Were the floodplain
sites as technologically and typologically homogeneous as has often been assumed? And, as has been suggested
recently, were there any differences in the composition of assemblages in more elevated terrace locations?
