TAUNTON AND DUNSTER. 



Ixv. 



great ditch, in which, as the workmen dug down, they recovered relics of modern, 

 mediaeval, and Roman times, and then of the prehistoric Iron, Bronze, and Stone 

 Ages. Eed-deer antler picks were found resting on the hard chalk bottom of 

 the ditch, together with the shoulder blades of oxen, which were used as spades ! 

 The great foss at Avebury was the largest ancient ditch ever excavated iii 

 England. As to the result of the excavations, they had practically proved 

 Avebury to date back to the late Stone Age, whereas they knew that Stonehenge 

 was of the Early Bronze Age. It had always been supposed that Avebury was 

 somewhat earlier than Stonehenge, because the stones were not dressed as they 

 were at Stonehenge. 



A short discussion followed the lecture. 



The ACTING PRESIDENT, in expressing appreciation of Mr. 

 Gray's most interesting lecture, said that the stones themselves 

 were mysterious masses of sand cemented together by some 

 cohesive element, while the uncemented sand had been washed 

 away, until these megaliths had come down to rest on the 

 geologically far earlier chalk beds. 



Canon LANGFORD asked Mr. Gray if he could suggest the 

 purpose for which a place like Avebury was constructed. Was 

 it sepulchral, religious, or political ? 



Mr. GRAY answered that in England no circle had been proved 

 to be sepulchral, although in Scotland the majority had been 

 found to be so, interments having been found in most of them. 

 It was easier to prove the date of these places than their actual 

 purpose. He added that his report for this year had gone to the 

 Winnipeg meeting of the British Association. With the third 

 season's work they would probably complete their investigation 

 of Avebury. 



The HON. SECRETARY proposed a hearty vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Gray for his lecture. Canon LANGFORD said that, as the 

 oldest Member of the Club attending the meeting, he should be 

 glad to second it, and the vote was carried with applause. 



