260 Geological Sociefi/. 



riiocKEoixns of lkaknkd societies. 



GKOI.OGICAL S0CI1:TY. 



December '2nd, ll»14.— Dr. A. SmiHi Woodward, F.ll.S., rresidcnt, 

 ill the Chair. 



The following communication was read: — 



' On the Aije and Character of the Shippea Hill Man.' 

 D.v Tn.f. T. McKenny Hughes, M.A., F.K.S., F.G.S. 



The Author th-st gives a general description of the skeleton, and 

 of the position and circumstances in which it was found. 



He then discusses the mode of formation of tlic de]>osit in wliich 

 the remains occurred, and the limits within which, from tliat point 

 ot view, we may speculate as to their age. 



He consider that the Pleistocene deposits of the Fenknd were 

 laid down in fi gradually depressed river-basin behind a breaclied 

 seaward ban'ier, and gives examples from adjoining areas of similar 

 geographical conditions. 



Gravels of the age of EJephas nn/iq7/us and liliinoceras merckii, 

 as well as gravels of the age of Elcphas primif/eniiis and lihiiio- 

 ceros tichorhinus, occur within the Fenland ; but they are easily 

 distinguished from the gravels which are sometimes associated 

 with the peat and clay, and pass under them. The fauna also of 

 the ])eat- and clay-deposits is quite different. 



This area was gradually depressed, and the conflict between the 

 upland waters and the sea went on through both the ages just 

 referi-ed to, as shown by the earlier Corbicula Bed of March and 

 the newer Cockle Bed of Littleport. 



In an embayed part of the Fen, close behind the island known 

 as Shippea Hill, the skeleton was found in the peat, a few inches 

 al)ove the clay which the Author considers to be the equivalent of 

 til is Littleport Cockle Bed. 



AVhen first dug out the skull was in fragments, and the calotte, 

 with its prominent brow-ridges, suggested to many a greater 

 affinity to the Xeanderthal type, and a greater antiquity than 

 appeared probable when the rest of the cranium was added t<j it. 



In a preliminary notice published by tlie Author, he claimed that 

 it could not be older than Neolithic, and suggested that it might 

 be even as late as the time of the monks of Ely, who had a retreat 

 on the island close bv. 



