ON THE EXPLORATION OP A PALAEOLITHIC SITE IN JERSEY. 197 



Report of Work done in August 1915. 



Shortly after the despatch of the Eeport for July a crisis occurred 

 in the history of this undertaking. It became exceedingly doubtful 

 whether operations must not be suspended altogether, owing to the 

 dangerous condition of the roof. This is some forty-five feet high for the 

 most part. Besides, it largely consists, not of live rock, but of detached 

 blocks of granite of any weight up to ten or twelve tons, which are 

 held in place simply by the clay that has been forced down between the 

 fissures. A discharge of dynamite, however, cleared away everything 

 that was not relatively stable on the side overhanging Working A. 

 From within the breach thus effected our experienced quarrymen were 

 then able to carry on the attack across the back of the cave, precipitat- 

 ing avalanches of stones by means of long crowbars and grappling- 

 tools. As a result our workings were smothered with mountains of 

 debris, which it has cost at least a fortnight's labour to remove. The 

 roof, meanwhile, may be declared to be, for the time being, reasonably 

 safe; and excavation has henceforth proceeded as merrily as before 

 along the level of the implementiferous floor. It remains to take stock 

 briefly of the progress of the three workings distinguished in the 

 previous Eeport. 



Working A, after being cleared for another six feet along the western 

 side-wall, i.e., up to thirty-six feet from the entrance, was barred by a 

 projecting shelf of live rock. The upper part of this shelf coming first 

 into view seemed to mark the inner limit of the cave. Nearer the floor, 

 however, it turned out to be undercut by a cavity penetrating onwards at 

 an angle of some forty-five degrees. How much further back this 

 fresh extension of the cave may lead is at present a matter of pure 

 speculation, the utmost probings having hitherto reached but ten or 

 twelve feet, though without coming on any signs of the end. Appetite 

 for further advance in this direction has been whetted by the discovery 

 of implements, including one of the most perfect examples of the 

 Mousterian ' point ' hitherto obtained, in the heart of the breccia with 

 which this annexe of the cave is packed. 



Working B, which was carried across the entrance of the cave from 

 the western to the eastern wall, was almost completed by the end of 

 July. Up to the limit corresponding to the line of the roof overarching 

 the entrance it has proved remarkably rich in relics of human 

 occupation. Beyond this line, however, virtually nothing is to be 

 found. It would seem, therefore, that the present roof marks the 

 frontier of the ancient shelter, and that the theory of an original cave 

 stretching from side to side of that gaping cleft in the cliffs into which 

 La Cotte gives from the south must be given up. The only other 

 possibility, and that a faint one, is that the floor descends sharply at 

 this point ; in which case remains of Man might yet be discoverable at 

 a lower level than that which has been so far attained. 



Working C has not been pushed much further back along the 

 eastern sidewall; but, by way of compensation, the d6bris forming a 

 salient between Workings and A has been steadily reduced, so that 

 there is now clear floor throughout from the entrance to a depth of about 

 thirty feet. Work in this direction has revealed the encouraging fact 



