20 



C. KEID — THE PAL^OLITniC 



It may be pointed out that if this hypothesis of the origin of the 

 Palaeolithic brickearth during the reign of " steppe" conditions be 

 accepted, it will account for the non-correspondence of the ancient 

 channels with the present valleys, a thing very difficult to explain 

 if the infilling were caused by ordinary fluviatile action. If the 

 Palaeolithic brickearth be equivalent to the Palaeolithic loess of the 

 ancient deserts in Central Europe, we can understand how during 

 this period of cold and drought the smaller streams ceased to flow 

 and their valleys became so filled with rainwash and dust that when 

 a moister climate recurred the streams had to seek new channels. 



APPENDIX. 



Borings made at Hitchin in November and December, 1896. 



In Eansom's new brickyard, east comer. Surface about 268 feet 

 above Ordnance Datum. Work stopped by running sand and water. 



Paleolithic. 



Ancient 

 alluvium. 



Glacial ? 



Feet. 



r Brown brickearth, with a few stones and occasional 

 -j Palaeolithic implements ; bedding obscure and ir- 



( regular. (Dug to about 25 feet, bored o feet.) 30 



C Brown loam, rather stifter, with fresh-water shells 2 



J Brown sandy brickearth and a few stones 11 



j Brown sandy brickearth and traces of fresh-water shells. 4 



V Blacker loam. ^?/<Ami«, Jm«w««, and boulder-clay fossils 7 



^ Brown brickearth 1 



Gravelly loam 1 



Brown loamy sand and stones 2\ 



. Blue loamy sand and gravel, full of water 8 J 



67 



In Eansom's new brickyard, south end. 



(see p. 17). 



Surface about 270 feet 



3. Close to the old brick-pit east of New England. Surface about 



235 feet. 



Palseolithic ? 



Soil 



Brickearth and small stones 



Gravelly brickearth , 



Coarse loamy and gravelly sand 



Hard sandy and gravelly brickearth 2 



^ Loamy gravel 1 



1 



1 



n 



No attempt to go deeper was made at this spot. 



4. Preliminary trial in old brick-pit N.N.E. of Maydencroft Farm 

 (south side of the Charlton Eoad). Surface about 260 feet. 



Palaeolithic. Brickearth. (Dug 11 feet, bored 2 feet.) 13 



(White marl with I'resh-water shells 4 



Blackish loamy sand \ 



Black loam, with fresh-water shells and traces of plants 1 



Ancient 

 alluvium. 



For lower beds see bore-hole 8. 



ISi 



