ON THE EXPLORATION OF THE SETTLE CAVES. 



379 



in the open country, and they are equally remarkable for the absence of 

 palaeolithic implements, although we know that the same mammals, if not 

 palaeolithic men, have overrun that ground. 2. The existence of other 

 areas in the South and East where there are not distinct traces of so late 

 a land-glaciation, but where the remains of the same animals and ot 

 palaeolithic implements are abundant in the river-gravels in the open, as 

 well as in the caves. We can hardly suppose that this contrast in the 

 two areas can be due to the same destructive powers of nature working 

 with greater intensity in one than in the other, and we are brought to the 

 conclusion that an agent was at work in the one area which did not 

 extend to the other. We might cast about for an explanation for a long 

 time, did it not happen that the areas bereft of the remains are precisely 

 those which show the freshest and most extensive traces of land- 

 glaciation. 



This may be best expressed in tabular form, thus : — 



The progress of the work has been carefully noted by Mr. Jackson, 

 our indefatigable Superintendent, and by your Reporter. During the year 

 it has been almost barren in any evidence of animal life in the beds lying 

 below the Hyena-layer. We began working on the left side of the Cave 

 under the old entrance, and thence in the direction of Chamber B. The 

 material consisted almost entirely of large fallen blocks of limestone in 

 yellow sandy clay with, in some places, ochre. A few bone splinters were 

 found here, but they are unimportant, and had probably worked their way 

 down along the rock-wall from the formerly overlying Hyena-bed. 



On October 3rd the Settle Committee determined to open ground in a 

 small cave at the foot of the talus of the Victoria Cave, on the left as you 

 face it. It was found to contain brown laminated clay with sand at the 

 sides and interbedded with it. Nothing of interest was found, and work 

 was almost immediately resumed at the Victoria Cave as before. 



Beneath the yellow sandy clay, on the left already mentioned, we found 

 several large bosses of stalagmite from about two to five feet in height. 

 These evidently indicate an old floor ; they rest partly on fallen blocks 

 and partly on others, which may not have fallen and from their form may 

 be part of the solid rock floor worn by a stream. For the present we 

 have left them undisturbed. 



The remainder of our work has been for the most part along the right 

 side of the great central Hall, made up of what used to be called Chambers 

 A and D. A row of fallen blocks which had to be blasted lay all along 

 this right wall, but they have not yet been altogether removed. One of 

 the most curious facts noticed in the course of this excavation, is the 

 position of a thick bed of laminated clay which is seen to lie at various 

 angles. Near parallel 5 it was dipping only at a gentle slope towards 

 the right wall, but as the section progressed it inclined more and more, 

 and at parallel 20 dipped at so high an angle as 42°. This is the more 



