A neolithic arrowhead dug up in Sanderstead has been donated to the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society museum.

The archaeological artefact was found by Arthur Searle on Essenden Road in the early 1960s. His children Tony Searle and Cindy Hall have just donated the ancient arrowhead to the museum.

Experts at the society believe the arrowhead could have been used as a hunting tool up to 6,000 years ago during the early to middle neolithic period when it is believed hunters lived in the area, eating wild pigs, deer and possibly even wolf.

Chris Taylor, the curator of the museum, said: “It is unusual to find something like this, but not that unusual. There have been quite a few neolithic finds in this area and we have a lot of similar artefacts in the museum.

“Two polished neolithic axes were discovered in 1900 on Beech House Road.”

He said the arrowhead was a leaf shape, slightly larger than usual.

A number of artefacts from the stone age have been found in South Croydon, including the remains of ancient huts in Croham Hurst which were excavated in 1968 and are thought to have been made of turf.

It shows that the area was settled up to 10,000 years ago.