EXCAVATIONS AT MAUMBURY RINGS. 27 1 



and scorings. In all cases the trez-tine has been reduced to a 

 stump. 



Beyond the antlers, animal remains were not plentiful ; but at a 

 depth of nft. part of the skeleton of a small ox (Bos longifrons) 

 was found. Pig or wild boar (Sus scrofa) was found from 1 8ft. 

 to 26ft. deep. From depths of i4'sft. and 2i'5ft. respectively 

 Mr. E. T. Newton identifies the field-vole (Microius agrestis) and 

 the water-vole (Microlus amphibius). 



Among the land-shells found in the. shaft, Mr. Jukes-Browne 

 identifies, Helix aspersa, Helix nemoralis, Helicella itala, Vitrea 

 cellaria and Hygromia hispida. 



Here, then, in this pre-historic shaft, we uncovered, layer by 

 layer, evidence of one of the chief industries of Neolithic man 

 flint-mining and flint-chipping. Here we found at the lower 

 levels the very picks of antler with which the shaft was dug. 

 Here we obtained further evidence of the methods adopted 

 by pre-historic man some 4,000 years ago for extracting from the 

 bowels of the earth materials suitable for his needs. (In 

 considering this, however, it must be remembered that flints 

 are much scarcer in the zone of Belemnitella mucronata than 

 in the underlying zone.) Elsewhere shafts have been found 

 to be sunk in close proximity to each other, and it is possible 

 that other similar workings exist at Maumbury. In regarding 

 the pit from this point of view we naturally recall to memory the 

 well-known flint- workings at Cissbury and at Grime's Graves ; 

 and when considering the excellent preservation and the 

 massiveness of the picks, we recollect the seventy-nine specimens 

 from Grime's Graves, those from Cissbury, and those which the 

 writer had the pleasure of uncovering in the great fosse of 

 Avebury last May. 



The whole appearance of the Maumbury shaft favours the 

 opinion that it had become gradually filled in in the upper half. 

 The finer work of chipping, judging from the heaps of small 

 splinters discovered, must have taken place when the pit had 

 been filled up very considerably. Probably flints were worked in 

 this hollow, advantage being taken of the sheltered position. 



