12b 



UEOLOOY. 



It is, however, a remarkable fact that the shells which are em- 

 embedded in this deposit, are, for the most part, iminjured. 

 We must, then, look aroimd for a more satisfactory solution of 

 the mystery. Hitherto, the evidence advanced has tended 

 towards a conclusion that the age of the Blashenwell deposit is 

 attributable to the period known by the term Pliocene. 



Now I am going to advance a somewhat bold suggestion, but 

 in which I think there are not so great difficulties to be over- 

 come, as in those which we have considered. It is that the 

 deposit is Post Pliocene, if not more correctly • recent, namely, 

 coeval with man ; and that he was the agent which conveyed the 

 marine shells from their native localities, not perhaps to the lake 

 itself, but inland, whence they were washed into the stream, as 

 previously suggested. It should be remarked that they are both 

 of edible species, as is the case also with those at Arne; and it 

 will be observed that the limpet is foimd, not only frequently, 

 but in abundance, in many of the tumuli of the ancient Britons, 

 as well as amongst Eoman remains, and may consequently be 

 presumed to have been a material article of food. I would argue 

 also, a greater probability that, with a sharp edged flint, 

 or piece of bone, the native would be more successful in 

 inserting his rude weapon beneath the shell of the unsuspecting 

 limpet, than would a pliocene sea-bird, with his bill, or even 

 a modem fisherman, with his knife. That there is nothing 

 scientifically opposed to the theory that such a deposit may have 

 been produced at a recent period, I take an extract from Sir 

 Charles Lyell's Manuel of Geology; "in the "West Indies," he 

 says, " in the island of Guadaloupe, a solid limestone occurs at 

 the level of the sea-beach, enclosing human skeletons. The 

 stone is extremely hard, and chiefly composed of comminuted 

 shells and coral, with here and there some entire corals and 

 shells of species now living in the adjacent ocean. With them 

 are included arrow-heads, fragments of pottery, and other arti- 

 cles of human workmanship. A limestone with similar contents 

 has been formed, and is still forming, in St. Domingo. But 

 there are also more ancient rocks in the West Indian Archipelago, 

 as in Cuba, near the Havanna, and in other islands, in which 

 are shells identical with those now ^living in corresponding 

 latitudes; some well preserved, others in a state of casts, all 

 referable to the post-pliocene period." 



