Earthen Vase found in Boulder Clay at Stockport. 89 



shores — as at Southport — in rivers, and other places. 

 These rounded sands are found east of the great fault 

 which exists in the new red sandstone at Stockport, as 

 though indicating a prevalence of western winds which 

 drove them from the red sandstone area thereto, and this 

 is further indicated by the absence of pebbles. East of 

 this fault the land was raised. After this tropical period, 

 which formed the coal measures and new red sandstone, 

 there succeeded the Ice Age, which brought boulders from 

 Scotland, Westmorland, and Ireland into our midst, and 

 the crushing power of those from the Northern Pennine 

 chain of mountains ground away the new red sandstone 

 east and north of Stockport, and by this means brought 

 the coal measures within practical reach. The coal 

 measures are supposed to underlie the whole of this sand- 

 stone area. Not only did the icebergs grind away the 

 soft sandstone, but they deposited enormous beds of 

 boulder clay, in some places 50 yards thick, as above 

 the Reddish valley close to Arden, principally east of 

 the great fault. This fault passes from the Lancashire 

 side of the river Mersey through the Stockport market- 

 place, and so on to Poynton in a southerly direction. 

 It is in one of these beds of boulder clay that the vase 

 here shown was found, in a layer immediately over the 

 wind-blown sand, which is in process of being excavated 

 from below, and which is so valuable for moulding pur- 

 poses. In the process of excavation, a sufficient working 

 space having been obtained, the work is carried forward, 

 and, the soft red sandstone having been removed, the 

 clay is undermined until the superincumbent mass falls 

 in and fills up the vacant space. On Saturday, the 4th 

 of January, one of these falls took place, and this cup 

 was found as has been described. The vase was found 

 13 ft. below the present level of the land, of which there 

 is as follows : — 



