426 PROFESSOR HUGHES 



waste ground. Below this was an old surface soil which rested 

 on the gravel. 



In this gravel there were some natural pipes due to the 

 decomposition of the fragments of chalk in the gravel, and also 

 some deep pits or trenches filled with black silty soil full of 

 organic matter and quantities of household refuse knives and 

 forks, spoons, spurs, glass, pottery, bones of domestic animals, 

 and so on. 



As far as I was able to make out, the oldest objects occurred 

 in the bottom of the pits a, z, and newer remains in the upper 

 part. The objects found in the ancient surface soil c were 

 of much later date than those in the black pits x, z, but, as the 

 workmen did not keep the remains from the different layers 

 separate, I had to draw what inferences I could from the 

 observations made during my visits, and merely question the 

 men as to the circumstances when anything peculiar had been 

 found by them. 



As we followed the excavations from west to east there 

 seemed to be a larger proportion of objects which must be 

 referred to the later dates, but this I was unable to follow up, 

 as there came a message that no one was henceforth to be 

 allowed to collect the objects turned out. 



I of course gave up the work to my great regret and that 

 of the workmen. I do not gather that any further accurate 

 observations were made. Many objects were found, some of 

 which found their way into the market, but, in the circum- 

 stances, I thought that I had better not be a purchaser. Any 

 further evidence that might have been obtained from this site 

 as to the roads and buildings in that part of old Cambridge is 

 therefore lost for ever. 



The way to make archaeological fossils subservient to history 

 is to arrange the objects which have been obtained at each 

 separate time and place in such a manner that the general 

 fades can be studied and the association of each particular 

 type can be observed. Some have a longer range in time than 

 others ; respecting the introduction of some we have historical 

 record. Observations by competent persons of the mode of 

 occurrence is the most important, and next to that examina- 



