222 EXCAVATIONS AT DEWLISH. 



sand, and possibly its formation under somewhat arid 

 (Steppe) conditions. Included within the sand are flints of 

 two kinds, one being highly polished, while the other kind 

 are porous and decayed shell-like pieces roughly concavo- 

 convex and pentagonal in outline. The polished flints are 

 for the most part subangular, pebbles being rare. The 

 polish often covers most of the flint, but is occasionally 

 confined to one face. The surfaces are covered with wart- 

 like lumps, sometimes polished, rising from a surface pitted 

 with many small holes resembling pin pricks. 



Similar pitted surfaces are also seen on the shelly fragments 

 of flint. These shelly flakes were described by Mr. Mansel- 

 Pleydell who called attention to the fact that they are about 

 as thick as a threepenny bit, while the polished flints are 

 usually much thicker. These concavo-convex chips look as 

 though they have been split off a large nodule by changes 

 of temperature, and are certainly a form not often met with. 

 Some brown coated flints similar to those lying on the hill 

 top were also brightly polished, although I was unable to find 

 any polished specimens on the neighbouring fields. It is 

 probable therefore that the polish was imparted when the 

 flint reached the trench and not while it was lying on the 

 surface. 



An attempt was made to estimate the depth to which the 

 polish extended. Under the microscope the polished surface 

 seems to dip down into the little pits, but does not extend 

 to their bases, so that the surface is diversified by numerous 

 unpolished vaguely round patches. 



The later deposit, a heterogeneous accumulation of 

 flints of various shapes, sizes, and conditions mixed with 

 the dust-like sand and without any sign of bedding, 

 fills the southern half of the trench from top to bottom, 

 and rests against the bedded sand in such a manner as to 

 suggest that it had cut through the sand and in part 

 replaced it. The relationship between the two was clearly 

 indicated by a section across the trench almost at 

 right angles to its length. This section revealed the 



