2 PUOCKEDINGS OF THE 



The gnivel consists of subatignlar, water-worn flints, large 

 noJiiles less worn, and occasional blocks of Narsen-stone ; the 

 whole brtin<jj mixed with flint grit and quartzose sand, and forming 

 a compact and soraewliat coherent mass. Several Palaiolitiiic 

 implements aud part of a skull of Bos lowjifrons have been found 

 in the deposit. 



Tlio roots and stumps referred to were distributed promiscuously 

 over the surface of the ground as the gravel in which they were 

 embedded was removed. The work of excavating ceased in this 

 particular part of the valley about ten years ago, so the roots still 

 remaining have been exposed for that length of time, the others 

 having been cut up for fuel by the cottagers in the neighbourhood. 



Most of those now found there were left intact because of the 

 large number of stones enclosed in the wood. Not only did these 

 resist the work of saw and axe, but when burnt they burst 

 asunder with considerable force, becoming a source of danger to 

 those within range of the flying fragments. 



The stones are actually embedded in the solid oak, and not 

 merely included within forked portions which may have grown 

 together subsequently. The tissue of the wood appears to have 

 growu around the stones and enveloped tlieni, indicating that the 

 process was carried on under conditions of considerable pressure. 

 There are dozens of stones embedded in some of these roots, or 

 snags, so that the substance might be described as " a con- 

 glomerate formed of flints enclosed in a woody matrix." 



In the specimen of which I now show a photograph (Plate 1) 

 I counted no less than sixty-seven flints, the largest being several, 

 pounds in weight, and there are innumerable empty cavities 

 showing where others existed before the shrinkage of the wood 

 after exposure. Piles of these dislodged flints are to be seen on 

 the ground under and around each root. 



The picture now thrown upon the screen shows the same root 

 with one of the limbs cut off to facilitate its removal to the 

 Museum at Kew last July. Only three of the sixty-seven stones 

 were sliaken out before the specimen reached Kew — this being 

 due to the sawing, and the shaking of the cart in which they were 

 conveyed to Faversham. 



In regard to the forked part now seen : — Each limb measures 

 about 3 feet in length, with girths averaging about 25 inches. 

 This part contains 50 stones. The single piece was sawn off the 

 forked one ; its length is 33 inches, and the girth measurement 

 averages 25 inches ; it contains 14 stones. 



I have occasionally seen odd stones thus embedded in the trunks 

 of trees. In Norton Churchyard, a few miles from Faversham, 

 are three very old yew trees, and in two of them I saw flints and 

 fragments of tiles embedded in the wood of the trunk seven feet 

 above the ground. 



In Molash Churchyard, six or seven miles south of Faversham, 

 there are six very old and large yews. Some of these have flints 



