THE PROBLEM OF LYNCHETS. 77 



It can be seen that the summit has a gentle outward inclin- 

 ation of 3" ; then all at once begins a more rapid descent, 

 14ft. 3in. in depth, at an angle of 19^. At the foot of this 

 declivity is the first terrace, 21ft. in width, with an outward 

 inclination of 10° in its higher part and 7® beyond. It is this 

 lynchet that was cut through. Its lower bank, iift. in depth, 

 has a steep descent at 40° leading to the second terrace, which 

 has a width of 25ft. and an outward inclination of 18°, In its 

 turn, its lower bank, 20ft. in depth, descends at an angle of 39°, 

 and then the third terrace is reached, which has a width of 24ft. 

 and an outward inclination of 16°. Last of all comes the 

 general slope of the hillside, which falls away at an angle 

 varying between 34° and 36°. 



The section, carried down into the firm micaceous yellow- 

 sand, was 4ft. deep throughout, so that it was easy to measure 

 the thickness of the layer of humus and sandyhumus. At the 

 highest point of the lynchet, marked a (on Diagram F), this 

 Ia3-er had a thickness of 12 inches, and it gradually diminished 

 to 8 inches at $, to 7 inches at 7, and at s to only six inches. 

 Concretionary sandstone was found at a, implying a hardening 

 or cementing action at the former spot. The labourer declared 

 that at 3 his spade had encountered a similar hardness, but 

 there were no sandstones. His assertion was verified by 

 samples that were secured. The soil thrown out of the trench 

 contained no flint flakes, nor potsherds, nor any foreign sub- 

 stance whatever. And there are no signs of a hill-fortress on 

 the summit, nor any place-names in the neighbourhood that 

 suggest one. And it is apparent that what the section reveals 

 does not answer the requirements of any theory of artificial 

 formation. 



16. On Allington Hill, near Bridport, of the same geological 

 formation, Midford Sands, is a lynchet that tells quite another 

 story. It is shown by Diagram G. Along the upper border runs 

 a stone wall, behind which the hill rises quickly to the summit. 

 The terrace has the great width of 45ft. and a gentle inclination 

 outwards of 5°, which increases to 8°, and at last becomes 10°. 



