282 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 
V. Excavation round a Prostrate Stone. 
The fallen sarsen stone chosen for examination this year is one of 
a group of five (two standing, three fallen) forming the south and 
south-west portion of the southern of the two inner circles. It is the 
most southern of the remaining prostrate stones of this circle, at a 
distance of 144 feet to the north of the most western of the two 
standing-stones near the entrance. Before excavation the stone was 
seen to have fallen in a southerly direction, the north end being con- 
siderably covered by turf. The digging was carried down to the solid 
chalk on all sides except the south and south-west. 
This digging proved (1) that the stone measured 16} feet long by — 
12 feet wide; (2) that it had fallen in or since medieval times ; (8) that 
a socket-hole had been cut into the solid chalk to a depth of 1°5 foot, 
roughly shaped to receive the base of the stone; (4) that for additional 
support the stone had been packed round with a considerable number 
of blocks of sarsen measuring from 4 inches to 16 inches across; (5) 
that the base of the stone had been set at a depth of 4°3 feet from the 
present surface of the field; and (6) that the base of the stone in its 
fall had kicked out in a northerly direction only to the extent of 2 feet. 
_ A number of shards were found in this excavation, but nothing was 
apparently of earlier date than Norman times. Between the surface 
and a depth of 2°5 feet, and above the level of the socket-hole cut 
into the solid chalk, this medieval pottery appeared to be plentiful 
enough to indicate the former existence of some kind of a dwelling 
close against the stone, and it is possible that shelter for a number of 
years together may have been taken in close proximity to these huge 
standing-stones. Some of the pottery was found under the north end 
of this prostrate stone; it was, however, observed that the shards 
were close against the stone, and none below the level of the natural 
bed of the solid chalk. 
A scale plan and two sectional diagrams were made of this ex- 
cavation. ; 
VI. Animal Remains. 
Last year were found the remains of ox (of two sizes), horse (of two 
sizes), sheep, red-deer, ? roebuck, pig, dog, fox, ? wolf, and fowl. Some of 
these were kindly identified by Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S. 
_ Besides the red-deer antler picks and the shovels of scapul@ previously 
recorded, the following animal remains were found this year :— 
Cutting ‘IL. 
Ox.—Humerus, depth, 6°3 feet in Roman stratum; tibia with ends 
missing, depth, 9°5 feet in Bronze Age stratum; part of radius of a young 
animal,’ depth, 18°5 feet on bottom of fosse; metacarpus of large ox 
(length, 240 millimetres ; estimated stature, 4 feet 9 inches), depth, 7°5 feet 
in Roman stratum ; two digits,’ depth, 7 feet. 
Red Deer.—Two pieces of tine of antler, depth, 8 feet in mixed silting 
(No. 121 in section); smooth piece of tine of antler, depth, 10-2 feet at 
bottom of mixed silting (No. 127 in section); part of a metacarpus,' 
depth, 9 feet: 
“© “Mole.’—Scapula and sternum; depth not recorded. 
Toad.'—Tlium ; depth not recorded. 
1 Identified by Mr. E. T. Newton, F.B.S. 
