The Flint Implements of Bemerton awi M'd/ord Hill. 119 



large quantities of gravel were dug for road making and other pur- 

 poses. During this period (besides the making of a few cellars) 

 there were immense quantities of gravel removed from under the 

 present road (marked Nos. 1-3 and 14 on Plan II.), as also from the 

 pit marked No. 15 on the same plan. 



The gravel generally was of the most heterogeneous character, 

 consisting principally of sub-angular flints, rolled tertiary pebbles, 

 sand, rubbly chalk, fragments of chert, greensand, and oolite rock ; 

 it was in many places at least 15£t, in depth, and here and there 

 were cavities, one being large enough to contain the carcase of a 

 horse.' 



From the latter end of 1873 to the end of 1876 the writer visited 

 these excavations almost daily, and the sparseness of the finds may 

 be imagined, since, on the whole, the average in the three years did 

 not exceed above one in a month. It may be stated that, during 

 the above period, the work-people were constantly being changed, 

 and the fresh hands had to be instructed ; consequently a large 

 number of natiiral forms were produced as realities. 



Besides the specimens found in the localities specified on Plan II., 

 implements have been procured wherever that sheet of gravel 

 capping Milford Hill and its neighbourhood has been dug — in Mr, 

 Mc. Intosh's field, close to the Southampton Road ; in Mrs. 

 Fowler's field and paddock, near the wooden bridge; in Mr. W. 

 Pinckney's garden; and in St. Anne's Street. 



As a rule the implements from Milford Hill and adjacent parts 

 are not much iron-stained, and although some of them are very 

 water-worn, others, on the contrary, have their edges and angles so 

 sharp that, but for other appearances, they might have been fashioned 

 quite recently. 



Some of the implements present a white porcellanous appearance. 

 '' The flint is white and porcellanous on the surface and has become 

 so light and soft in structure that it can readily be cut with a 

 knife." 2 



* See "Ancient Stone Implements," by J. Evans, p. 501. 



* "Ancient Stone Implements," by Mr. J. Evans, p. 450. 



