FLO WEE FLINT IMPLEMENTS. 51 



may reasonably conclude that deposits agreeing with each other inr 

 such various and minute particulars must be regarded as contempo- 

 raneous ; and if so, it would seem to follow that, although now sepa- 

 rated by an arm of the sea, they at some former period (like the chalk 

 on which several of the beds rest) extended, but with certain in- 

 tervals or breaks (which were afterwards in all probability much 

 widened), over one continuous area, ranging, as far as at present 

 explored, from the Somme, if not from the Seine, into Kent, Hants, 

 Wilts, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Bedfordshire. Unless we adopt this 

 view we must suppose that each of these several deposits, although 

 of similar date and character, is to be ascribed to a separate and 

 independent origin. Such an hypothesis is not to be regarded as 

 impossible, but it seems far less probable, and far less consistent with 

 the methods of reasoning usually adopted in dealing with such topics, 

 than that which would ascribe all the deposits to one common 

 agency. 



Another argument in support of the view here stated may be 

 drawn from the close resemblance which is seen to exist in the form 

 of the implements. We may reasonably assume from this that 

 they were fashioned and used by men of the same race ; and these 

 must either have been inhabitants of one conterminous region, or if 

 separated, as now, by an arm of the sea, then one of these nations 

 must have had such intercourse with the other as would enable it to 

 imitate thus closely the fashion of its implements. It seems, how- 

 ever, highly improbable that a people altogether destitute of metals, 

 and so ignorant of the arts of Hfe as to be restricted to the use of 

 such rude instruments, could have navigated even the narrow strait 

 which divides us from the continent : they would have no means of 

 constructing vessels for the passage, nor any desires to tempt them 

 to incur its dangers. And upon this assumption, it would follow that 

 before the severance of this island from the continent (of which there 

 are several other well known indications) both countries were adapted 

 for the habitation of men, and were, in fact, inhabited. 



I do not propose on this occasion to consider at any length the 

 question of the mode of transport of these objects and their atten- 

 dant gravels. I shall only venture to indicate how far the opinions 

 which have been held on that interesting and perplexing subject are 

 borne out by the phenomena of this particular deposit and those in 

 the immediate neighbourhood. 



In the very able paper which Mr. Prestwich read before the Eoyal 

 Society, he inclines to the opinion that these gravel-terraces were 

 brought into their present position by river-action ; but as that 

 opinion was advanced with some hesitation and with several quali- 

 fications, it seems reasonable that the subject should be reconsidered, 

 especially with reference to this and various other recent discoveries, 

 as well in France as in England, by means of which our knowledge 

 of the deposits, and of their relations to other strata, has been much 

 increased. 



In the district now in question we find several deposits of imple- 

 ments very near to each other, but in three difi^erent valleys — namely, 



e2 



