EARLY MAN 
HE prehistoric remains found in Bedfordshire are numerous and 
of considerable importance, and it is interesting to note that 
through the action of Mr. (now Sir) John Evans some of the 
earliest English discoveries of palzolithic implements were made 
in this county. Mr. Evans visited a gravel pit at Biddenham near Bed- 
ford in the expectation of finding paleolithic implements, and although 
he did not at the time succeed in finding any, the search was vigorously 
and successfully taken up by the late Mr. Wyatt of Bedford, who as long 
ago as the early part of 1861 discovered an important series, the chief 
specimens of which are now in the British 
Museum. In 1830 a palzolithic implement 
(fig. 1) was picked up at Dallow farm near 
Luton by a farmer, who, although ignorant of 
its real nature, was struck by its odd shape and 
preserved it among some other curious stones. 
It came at length into the possession of the 
writer. It may be added that a large number 
of paleolithic implements has been found zm | 
situ at Caddington in the same neighbourhood. 
As far as Bedfordshire is concerned there 
is reason to believe that man’s first appearance 
was made in the early part of the quaternary period, or the pleistocene 
age, as it is termed by geologists. This was after the deposit of the 
boulder clays and gravels belonging to the glacial period or periods, and 
before the deposition of the contorted drift. 
Paleolithic stone tools have been found near Bedford at Biddenham, 
at Kempston, Harrowden, Fenlake and Cardington ; at all these places 
the writer has discovered examples, especially at Kempston, in large 
numbers. The valley of the Ouzel at Bossington near Leighton Buzzard 
has also yielded specimens. 
Eight miles to the east of Bedford, at Tempsford, the Great Ouse 
is joined by the Ivel; at this place, and at eight miles to the south at 
Langford and Henlow, implements have been discovered. Palzolithic 
flakes and remains of the mammoth have been procured at Eaton Socon, 
three and a half miles to the north of Tempsford, and palzolithic flakes 
at Flitwick two miles to the south of Ampthill. Near Henlow the Ivel 
is joined by the Hiz, and at Ickleford, four miles south of Henlow on 
the border of Hertfordshire, similar discoveries have been made. 
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