248 ON RAINS CAVE, LONGCLIFFE, DERBYSHIRE. 



excavations, when also a turned spindle-whorl, similiarly situated, 

 was picked up. Iron, as a common material for implements, Was 

 another late introduction, and of the ten or more pieces (all too 

 fragmentary and oxidized to make out their former use) found in 

 this cave, only one was as low down as the charcoal layer, and its 

 association with that layer was very doubtful. 



These lines of reasoning leave but little room for doubt that 

 there was an earlier and a later sepulchral era, in the interval of 

 which the charcoal layer was deposited. It is evident, then, that 

 this layer, or its extension— the floor-surface of the time — was 

 broken through, in order that the interments of the later era 

 might reach those of the earlier and the still older refuse layer. 

 This, of course, would displace and commingle objects of the 

 former layer with those of the three other periods. I think it very 

 likely, although I have no very cogent reasons for saying so, that the 

 hammer-stone, the flint core, and some of the pieces of flint, 

 including the unfinished implement found in the latter layer, 

 originally belonged to the above extension. Apart from these, the 

 character and numerousness of the flint objects found in the 

 charcoal layer were highly suggestive that the cave was at that 

 stage temporarily used by a flint-knapper. 



The fragments of charred skull may be urged against the 

 sepulchral origin of the earher human bones. As, however, fire 

 was SI well-nigh universal concomitant of prehistoric interments 

 (perhaps with a view to the ceremonial purification of the graves), 

 it must have often happened that the bones of older interments 

 were accidentally burnt thereby. These fires probably explain the 

 small patches of charcoal in the central region in and above the 

 refuse layer. 



We now pass to the underlying loam and breccia. The breccia 

 first : its slope corresponding with that of the above beds proclaims 

 its nature — a talus. It differed from the topmost bed in several 

 particulars. It did not vary so much. Its stones were more 

 closely packed and angular, and of more constant size ; and the 

 intersticial loam was finer and lighter in colour. It gave one the 

 idea of a shingle, afterwards intersticially filled with loam. On the 



