152 



REPORTS ON THE STATE OP SCIENCE. 



kind — a type which has been associated with Long-barrows and such 

 early settlements as the prehistoric pits at Peterborough. 18 



All the objects discovered in the lower half of the mixed silting, in 

 the fine mixed silting, and in the chalk rubble, are such as are charac- 

 teristic of the Neolithic period, and we have decidedly less hesitation in 

 regarding the fosse of Avebury as being of Neolithic construction than 

 we had at the close of the excavations of 1909. The relics discovered 

 have not been numerous, but considering the early date and the great 

 extent of Avebury, and the comparatively small area yet excavated, the 

 most optimistic antiquary could hardly have expected to find a greater 

 variety of objects in the prehistoric area than pottery with charac- 

 teristic ornament; flint knives and scrapers, and flakes with secondary 

 chipping; picks, hammers, levers, and other implements of antler; 

 bone shovels, and other bones more or less worked. 



We have proved much, but have yet a good deal to learn with regard 

 to the mode of construction of Avebury and the methods adopted in 

 excavating the stupendous fosse and raising the great vallum. 



It will be a great disappointment if a means cannot be found to make 

 an adequate examination of the southern entrance-causeway of Avebury 

 and the items of structural interest adjoining it, and a serious hindrance 

 to archaeological research and to the endeavour to piece together the 

 history of Britain's greatest prehistoric stone monument. 



VII. Grants and Subscriptions. 



In addition to the grant of 30L made by the British Association for 

 I he excavations of 1911, the following private donations and grants 

 were kindly subscribed to the fund : — 



The Hon. John Abercromby, F.S.A. Scot. 



Society of Antiquaries of London . 



The Lord Avebury, D.C.L., F.E.S. 



Marlborough College Natural History Society 



The late N. Story Maskelyne, F.E.S. 



C. H. Eead. LL.D., P.S.A. 



Henry Balfour 



W. M. Tapp, LL.D., F.S.A. 



Horace Sandars, F.S.A. . 



Albany F. Major 



T. H. M. Bailward . 



And the following donations from members of the Wiltshire. Archaeo- 

 logical and Natural History Society (per the Bev. E. H. 



The Marquess of Lansdowne 



Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice 



W. Heward Bell, F.S.A. . 



Sir Prior Goldney, Bart., C.V.O., C.B. 



F. H. Goldney . 



A. W. H. Burder, F.S.A. 



Captain Jenner . 



J. E. Ward 



18 Archceologia, lxii., 333, et seq. 



