222 



At the same time, many investigators in prehistoric 

 archaeology have claimed to have discovered still earlier 

 examples of human workmanship which have come to be 

 designated, "prepalaeoliths" or "eolithic" implements. 



In 1889, Professor Joseph Prestwich described some 

 remarkable prehistoric finds that had been made on the chalk 

 plateaus of Kent [xvn.]. This paper was followed by others, 

 by the same author, in succeeding years [xviii., xix.], and 

 introduced what has become a considerable literature on the 

 subject. Whilst the previously recognized palaeoliths were 

 found in the gravels of the river valleys, this new find was 

 obtained from certain ancient gravels that were laid down 

 before the valleys containing the palaeolithic implements had 

 been excavated. Of these plateau implements, 'Prestwich 

 says, "They form a distinct group, characterized by their 

 generally brown and ochreous colour, extremely rude shape,, 

 and worn appearance" [xvn., p. 286]. It is also stated that 

 the great majority of the implements have been formed from 

 natural fragments of flint. When design is indicated it is 

 usually in the form of scrapers, or used for hammering, and 

 are in all cases hand implements. 



Professor B. C. A. Windle, of Birmingham University, 

 •describes this eolithic type of implements as "Roughly-hewn 

 pebbles and nodules and naturally broken stones showing 

 work, with thick ochreous patina, found on the plateaus of 

 the chalk, and other districts, in beds unconnected with the 

 present valley drainage/' [xxix.. p. 14]. The same author,, 

 when referring to the nature of the work done on these 

 stones, says, "The trimming .... has generally been made 

 on the edges of rude natural flints, taken from an old flint 

 drift" [loc. cit., p. 41]. Again, on page 43, Professor Windle 

 says, "The stones are almost invariably stained a deep, warm, 

 brown colour, in this respect resembling the flints of the drifts 

 in which they are found. This colour spreads over the worked, 

 as well as the unworked parts, though it may be lighter in 

 shade on the former than on the latter." 



Many experienced students in prehistoric archaeology are,, 

 however, sceptical in this matter and refer the chipped flints 

 of the chalk plateau, and other places, as well as occurrences- 

 of similarly flaked flints at the base of the Pliocene "Crag," 

 as having been caused by natural rather than by human 

 agencies. The advocates for and against the validity of these 

 supposed human artefacts are about evenly balanced. The 

 Geological Society of London, on November 19, 1913, devoted 

 an entire evening meeting to the subject. 'No papers were 

 read, but in response to the invitation issued on November 5, 

 18 or more exhibits were made of implements and reputed 



