Io6 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT. 



pointing? of stakes. Not much of this material could be kept for 

 inspection ; large stems and trunks of trees — elm and oak — were 

 thrown back into the excavated pit. But I hive saved a few 

 stakes, showing careful pointing. I have cut up some of the 

 oak and polished pieces, as examples of solidity and fine mate- 

 rial, of which bog-oak ornaiuents might be made. I took 

 sketches of oak poles cut partly through on each side, and then 

 broken in two, so as to furnish a pair of pointed stakes from one 

 piece. I have still an oak pile, pointed at both ends, measuring 

 about 9 feet in length and 5 inches in diameter. The chopped- 

 ofF twigs of all kind of woods then in growth are found mixed up 

 with stiff clay, sand, and gravel, along with nuts, acorns, and 

 leaves, to form the floor of the habitation. The prevailing twigs 

 identified are of birch ; the bark is still bright and glossy. The 

 most decayed examples of piles and logs are of elm. I think 

 that there is much fir. Yew is found, and the wood is still hard, 

 and capable of taking a high polish. The cjak stakes were 

 squared and split in a rude and primitive manner. 



Stone Implements and "Flakes." 



No large celt of the polished kind has been found in 

 the relic-bearing bed. A portion of a polished celt is in my 

 collection at the Club's Museum. This was found near the site 

 and on the bank of the Pcd brook. Numbers of finely-made 

 and well-polished celts have been found in and near Braintree. 

 I found two finely-chipped flint javelins, leaf-shaped, of the long 

 or oval Barrow period, in conjunction with four polished celts 

 of porcelain texture, at Kelvedon (these are in the Club's 

 Museum). A javelin of exactly the same kind was found 

 in the deep beds of the settlement associated with flakes and 

 bones (see fig. 7). I therefore conclude that large polished 

 stone celts belong to, and may yet be found at, Skitts Hill. 



A Hammer-stone or Axe was found in the valley, on 

 the surface, within a few hundred yards of the settle- 

 ment. It is slightly damaged on the underside. It is in 

 length 6 ins., 3 ins. wide in the middle, and brought to a blunt 

 point at both ends ; weight, 2 lbs. ; made from a dark basalt 

 or quartzite stone, rubbed to a smooth surface. This agrees 

 with such as are found in Denmark, undrilled, and made to be 

 used in the hand, without hafting, and it is identical with one 

 in the Christy collection, British Museum. 



