136 REPORT—1874, 
ordinary effects of winter frosts and summer rain. The edge of the cliff, on 
the retiring of the ice-sheet, was probably as free from glacial drift as we 
now find it. 
- Our second inquiry, which proceeded simultaneously with the first, met 
with only negative results. From the bottom of the Roman layer to the main 
mass of the boulders we met with no bones whatever, nor with any evidence 
of man’s presence*. If, through the long time represented by these 19 feet of 
talus, animals existed in the neighbourhood, either they did not happen to 
die at or to be carried to the spot excavated, or their bones have been entirely 
dissolved by the action of rain. The former seems the more probable alter- 
native ; for if bones were dissolved, some remains of teeth at any rate would 
probably survive. A few bones, however, were found upon and among the 
boulders; these we haye not yet had an opportunity to determine, and from 
their position it is doubtful to what age they may belong, for it is quite pos- 
sible that they may have been washed out of the sloping denuded edges of 
the lower cave-earth on which the boulders rest. One appears to be a frag- 
ment of a very large bone, and possibly may be elephant; another is the 
os calcis of an ox. 
The Roman layer, as the black band is with much reason called, contained 
several different kinds of pottery, some coarse and black, others white, and 
some red Samian ware. Of bronze articles six were found: two were brace- 
lets, one consisting of three strands of wire twisted, with the hook by which 
it was fastened still remaining at one end; a second was thicker, consisting 
of five strands, but merely a fragment, only one fourth of what must have 
been its entire length; a band of thin bronze plate, which looks as if it 
might have bound a sword- or dagger-sheath ; the bow end of a broken key ; 
a scent-box or vinaigrette perforated with four holes, in appearance some- 
thing like the top of a peppercaster, only one side of it remaining, together 
with the hinge still in working order, and the loop by which it was sus- 
pended round the fair neck of its wearer. Similar ornaments are figured in 
‘Roman Antiquities, Mansion House,’ by Mr. J. E. Price, F.S.A., to whom we 
are indebted for its identification. A sixth object was found amongst some 
of the Roman layer which had been thrown over the tip, and is of doubtful 
age. It is a circular plate 14 inch in diameter, with a hole in the centre and 
two rivets at the back. It must have been affixed to some perishable mate- 
rial, for the rivets which project for some distance at their distal ends are 
quite perfect. It seems to have some traces of silvering at its centre. During 
the removal of the talus, the Reporter found three rudely. discoidal pieces of 
Carboniferous gritstone, which appeared to have been roughly chipped to a 
diameter of between 5 and 6 inches. They were red, and had evidently been 
subjected to fire ; most probably they had been used as pot-boilers, and their 
discoidal form was given to them that they might better fit the bottom of the 
pot. They were from the upper portion of the talus, that containing the 
pottery, but the exact position had been forgotten by the workmen. 
As the summer advanced, the talus and overlying “tip” were so far re- 
moved that it was determined to convene a Meeting of the Committee and 
others to witness the removal of the last layers of talus and the uncovering 
of the boulder-bed. Invitations for the 6th of July were issued to all the 
Committee, to all who had written papers on the cave, and some other 
geologists. 
Of the British Association Committee, only Mr. Miall and I were able to 
* The Neolithic layer appears to have died out down the slope, or to haye coalesced 
with the Roman layer, 
