26 
“Jong anterior to the ‘ valley gravels,’ formed under the present 
“river régime, and may, I think, prove even to belong to an 
“early stage of the glacial or pre-glacial period. The condition 
“‘ of the implements themselves is certainly in accordance with 
“the assumption of extreme age, and they bear also the 
‘impress of a very primeval art.” 
I will now consider the general difference between the 
Paleolithic and Neolithic implements. The former are mostly 
found in river gravel, or embedded in clay near the surface of 
the ground; they are fashioned in a rude manner, and appear to 
be separated from the Neolithic by a wide interval of time, in 
which probably the contour line of the country was somewhat 
different. The Paleolithic flints found, not only in our own 
country, but in France, shew a great resemblance to each 
other. Professor Prestwich remarks, in his Igtham paper— 
“the character of ordinary Neolithic surface specimens is very 
“ distinct from that of these Paleolithicforms. The unpolished 
“Neolithic flint implements that are found on the surface are 
“at once recognised, not only by their form, but also by their 
“condition. The flint is weathered, and the black surfaces 
“have become irregularly whitened with a dull lustre, and with 
“the edges slightly blunted, but not water-worn. There is an 
“absence also of that uniform but varied colouring which 
“results from entombment in a matrix of a special character. 
“The specimens are free from incrustation, except in a few 
“cases, where they have lain in alluvial beds; while from 
‘“‘ exposure on the surface they have commonly come in contact 
“with plough or spade, and the iron rubbed off by the sharp 
“edges of the stone has rusted and fringed them with strong 
“ferruginous stains, in contrast with the generally colourless 
“surface. The surface of these Paleolithic flints, on the 
“contrary, although they occasionally show contact with the 
“plough, are more usually free from these iron-marks, and 
“ exhibit generally the deep uniform staining of brown, yellow, 
“or white, together with the bright patina resulting from long 
“embedment in drift-deposits of different characters; and 
“while some are perfectly sharp and uninjured, others are 
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