VALLEY- GEAVELS ABOFT READING. 583 



elevation of about 269 feet above sea-level, a section shows about 

 8 feet of irregularly-bedded, ochreous, subangular flint-gravel, with 

 pebbles of flint, a few quartzites, &c. There are various other 

 sections at about this elevation within a mile or two ; but the only 

 one of special interest is at a somewhat lower level, near Caversham 

 church, in a pit on Toots Parm at a height of 235 feet above sea- 

 level, and 114 feet above the adjacent river-surface. 



The section shows about 8 feet of slightly-bedded, subangular, 

 flint-gravel, containing many large flints in a light-coloured sandy 

 matrix, together with occasional fragments of felsitic and other rocks, 

 and a considerable number of the usual pebbles of quartz, quartzite, 

 sandstone, &c., which are found in our valley-gravels at all levels, 

 and which are generally admitted to have been derived from the 

 waste of a Triassic coast-line further north. The gravel has 

 many pot-holes, filled with a compacted clayey and gravelly loam. 



It rests on the Chalk, and, beyond the occasional bending of its 

 bedding-planes, which may have been subsequent to its deposition, 

 it does not present evidence of any unusual or violent action. 



In this pit a large number of flint implements have been found. 

 They occur mostly in a definite zone, which follows the bedding of 

 the gravel, and is usually only 1-3 feet from the surface. I 

 have caused excavations to be made down to the Chalk, and the 

 result has confirmed the statements made by the men. The imple- 

 ments occur in considerable numbers, so that it is not difficult to 

 obtain specimens in situ ; and I have repeatedly taken them from 

 the gravel face. 



Some years ago I visited the pit when it was not being worked, 

 and no good section was visible ; but subsequently Dr. Joseph 

 Stevens was more fortunate, and obtained implements from this pit 

 and from the gravel thrown out in digging the foundations for a 

 house nearer the river, in the same deposit ; and a considerable 

 number have been secured for the local Museum by carefuUj'' turning 

 over the upper portion of the gravel. 



The condition in which the implements are found is such as to 

 suggest that the greater portion of them have not travelled far. 

 They are but slightly abraded or worn, as a rule, and there is more 

 or less unity of character in the forms, and similarity of surface- 

 condition. The sharp-pointed type is of general occurrence. They 

 are of various degrees of finish, some being worked but very slightly 

 indeed, or perhaps spoiled in the working ; others are carefully 

 executed. It seems likely, having in view also their numbers, 

 that they were made not far from the spot. 



These traces of Man do not occur all over the gravel-deposit, 

 but they do extend over a considerable area, as is proved by casual 

 openings. At the Toots-farm pit, the gravel occupies a sort of 

 promontory, bounded on one side by the river, on another by a dry 

 chalk valley, and on the third side it faces gently rising ground, 

 — a position in which gravel would readily accumulate. 



Selected nodules appear to have been largely used as the material 

 of the implements. The mineral condition of the surface, where 



