256 THE REV. J. MAGENS MELLO, M.A., F.G.S., ETC., 



several of its aspects. Any little differences that may exist in 

 interpreting facts will not hinder our endeavour to obtain tho 

 truth which we all strive for. 



I would suggest to Mr. Mello that it is just possible that there 

 may be evidence of greater antiquity for man than he has this 

 evening suggested to us. T do not think that this, from a theo- 

 retical point of view, is of importance. We know nothing of the 

 measure of antiquity in the terms of common historical expression, 

 w^lien we deal with geological terminology. Whether man dates 

 back to the early Tertiary period, or is limited to the Pleistocene 

 period, seems to me to be of small importance theoretically, but 

 very important as an ascertained matter of fact. Mr. Mello 

 alluded to the researches of Professor Prestwich, carried on with 

 admirable joerseverance over the central region of the North 

 Downs. It has been my pleasure to go over soma portion of that 

 ground with that remarkable man, Mi'. Benjamin Harrison, of 

 Ightham, whose persistent researches carried on over the Kentish 

 hills, enabled him to bring together the most surprising collection 

 of PaliBolithic implements from the hill gravels which was ever 

 gathered — more than 1,200 specimens— every one carefully cata- 

 logued and noted as to the position of its occux-rence, and as to the 

 points in which it differs from others. Those specimens are all 

 from what Professor Prestwich called the Hill Grravels, and he 

 regarded that gravel as being pre-glacial. What that means is 

 that man spread over this part of Kent (according to Professor 

 Prestwich's view) before the great glaciation came on which 

 covered the country northward with ice. We have long been 

 accustomed to believe that these glaciers do not give any con- 

 clusive evidence of having penetrated far south of the Thames. 

 Evidently there is no proof of the Boulder Clay having spread far 

 south of the Thames or over the gravels which contain these flint 

 implements. Hence we are compelled to follow them northward 

 beneath the Boulder Clay, and that position shows that they are 

 pre-glacial. This evidence is not conclusive upon the Kentish 

 Hills, for those who require absolute demonstration of fact iu 

 local sections, but in the absence of boulder clay no such sections 

 can exist. !N"evertheless these beds of hill gravel have in their 

 Palseolithic flints, evidence of early stages of human skill and art, 

 •developed through multitudinous modifications, the work of 

 people who spread over the country before the hills were bi'oken 

 up and divei'sified to their present foimis. The great valley at 



