ON THE HIGH-LEVEL FLINT-DRIFT OF THE CHALK. 349 



High-level Flint-drift of the Chalk. — Bejwrt of the Committee, consisting 

 of Sir John Evans (Chairman), Mr. B. Harrison (Secretary), 

 Professor J. Prestwich, and Professor H. G. Seeley. Brawn 

 up hy Mr. B. Harrison. 



The Committee were appointed to investigate the nature and probable 

 age of the High-level Flint-drift in the face of the chalk escarpment near 

 Ightliam, which appears to be productive of flakes and other forms of 

 flint probably wrought by the hand of man. 



This patch of gravel has been preserved upon a promontory of the 

 chalk escarpment, at an altitude of 658 feet. It extends for some 70 

 yards, and attains a maximum thickness of 5J, feet. 



It is composed chiefly of sharp angular flint, varying in colour from 

 bluish-white to bleached-white. Accompanying this is a quantity of 

 deeply-stained ochreous flints, with here and there pieces of chert, 

 Oldbury stone, and rag. 



Flakes made by man exist in thousands, and they preponderate over 

 the more elaborately worked specimens. Numerous scrapers, hollow- 

 notched and of horse-shoe shape, were obtained, as well as partially 

 finished implements ; but no perfect large tools, and none with any sign 

 of polishing. 



The worked-flint material is similar to that spread out in the Holmes- 

 dale valley, where it is accompanied by large somewhat rude implements. 

 Amongst the deep ochreous flints some bear the look characteristic of the 

 plateau specimens. The matrix is usually clayey, of a dark red colour, 

 but in places it is quite chalky, and unstratified. A large quantity of the 

 flints are encrusted with carbonate of lime. With the view of tracing 

 the origin of this bed attention was directed to the ground above, in 

 hope of finding either a Neolithic settlement, or plateau implements in 

 sitii. The latter having been traced to a position where an excavation 

 had brought them from a depth of six or seven feet (Pit A), it was decided 

 to dig a pit to obtain a section upon Parsonage Farm, Stanstead, by the 

 kind permission of the owner, Mr. Pink. 



The excavation was closely watched by Mr. W. J. Lewis Abbott, F.G.S., 

 and myself, and occasional visits were made by the Rev. R. Ashington 

 Bullen, F.G.S , acting under direction of Professor Prestwich, Mr. F. J. C. 

 Spurrel, Mr. Corner, F.G.S. , and others interested in the subject. 



The following is the section (see p. 350). 



Work was commenced on October 19, 1894, by digging a pit 12 feet 

 by 6 across. At the top, 2^ feet consisted of a stony loam, with a large 

 percentage of ochreous flint, much worn, angular white flint, Tertiary 

 pebbles, and some evidence of southern drift. With a fairly even line of 

 demarcation came a grey loam containing some small fragments of flint, 

 a few small Tertiary pebbles, and small rudely worked stones scattered 

 tliroughout at places. At about 5^ feet this loam became more clayey, 

 and of a deep rich ochreous colour, overlying a gravel, about 12 inches in 

 thickness, composed of much-worn ochreous flints, some very large, and 

 many Tertiary pebbles. This gravel was hard and compact. From it I 

 secured ^ery many worked implements. Heavy rain now hindered work 

 by filling the pit. Measuring off 12 feet in line we began to dig another 

 pit, 



