94 THE COMING OF AGE OF 



by OLir members, Messrs. G. F. Beaumont and I. C. Gould, and 

 of which I have been favoured with an advanced copy, bear 

 ample testimony to our activity. We were very fortunate at the 

 outset in having secured the active interest of that great pioneer 

 in modern archaeological research, our late Hon. Member, Gen. 

 Pitt- Rivers. It was at his instigation that systematic excava- 

 tions into the Epping Forest earthworks were first undertaken, 

 the suggestion having been brought before the Club at a meeting 

 held on July 3rd, 1880 (Proc. I., xxiv.) and at another memorable 

 meeting held at llford on July 24th, 1880 (Ibid., xxxii. ; see 

 also pp. 1. and liv.). The report on the excavations at Ambres- 

 bury Banks was drawn up by Gen. Pitt-Rivers and read in r88i 

 [Trans., II., 55 ; see also Proc. II., xxviii., for official report and 

 bibliographical history by the Secretary, Mr. W. Cole). The 

 exploration of the Loughton Camp was taken in liand the follow- 

 ing year, the British Association having recognized our work by 

 appointing a Committee and making a grant in aid of the 

 expense of excavation. The full report, drawn up by our 

 Secretary, was presented by me on our behalf at the Southport 

 meeting of the Association, and was also read before the Club on 

 Sept. 2gth, 1883 {B. A. Rep., 1883. pp., 243-252 ; Trans. III., 212 ; 

 Proc. III., li., and Appendix No. 2, p. vi.). The conclusions to 

 which this, our iirst piece of archaeological exploration, has led, 

 are too well-known to need recapitulation. It may be desirable 

 to point out, however, that although we have replaced antiquarian 

 lore by more substantial information, there still remains much to 

 be done, even in connection with these " camps." More especi- 

 ally may 1 emphasize the necessity for cutting further sections 

 through and across Ambresbury Banks, since the evidence as to 

 the age of this earthwork, although conclusive as far as it went, 

 was derived from one section only. 



One other piece of archaeological research which we liave 

 made essentially our own is the exploration of the " Dene-holes " 

 in Hangman's Wood near Grays. These interesting excavations 

 were first brought prominently under the notice ot the Club by 

 Mr. Worthington Smith at a joint meeting held with the 

 Geologists' Association at Grays, on May 14th, 1881 (Proc. II., 

 xviii.) Both the conductors of that remarkable meeting, Prof. 

 John Morris and Mr. Henry Walker, were Hon. Members of 

 the Club, and Mr. Worthington Smith, whose name still graces 

 — and luiiy it lung continue to grace — our list, has since helped 



