A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 
surface deposit named contorted drift. They almost invariably lie too deep 
to be turned up by the plough, so are rarely found on the surface. This fact 
is of great importance, for there must needs be some doubt as to the age 
and origin of implements found on the surface. ‘The contorted drift at 
Caddington has usually the deep red colour and tenacity belonging to 
red clay-with-flints. Red clay-with-flints occurs m situ in the neigh- 
bourhood close. by, and it must have been extensively present, to- 
gether with chalk-with-flints before the contorted drift was deposited. 
In a disturbed or relaid state both red clay-with-flints and chalk- with- 
flints are apparently extensively but irregularly deposited over the hills 
of south Bedfordshire. The contorted drift in its passage over the 
old land surface of chalk, Tertiary deposit, chalk-with-flints and 
red clay-with-flints, brick-earth, and ancient gravels, necessarily incor- 
porated the materials of these deposits into its own substance, and as 
palzolithic implements, both older and newer, were resting on these 
deposits it follows that palzolithic implements of all ages are found in it. 
Such is the case, for a few implements with edges as sharp as knives have 
been found, together with others, which, from their general rudeness, 
peculiar colour and mineral condition are obviously very much older. 
The older palzolithic implements range in style from very rude tools 
to occasional implements of the highest finish and regularity of form. 
There is no abrupt line of demarcation between rude and finished forms. 
The ruder predominate, but every intermediate form occurs. ‘They vary 
in colour, according to the tint of the contorted drift in which they are 
found, from dark brown and liver colour to dark and pale red, and yellow. 
The progress is continuous throughout in workmanship, colour, mineral 
condition and abrasion. Notwithstanding these facts it is obvious that 
some of the older tools are very much older than others, but as no tools 
are glacially striated and no implements occur in the local and sometimes 
adjoining glacial deposits it seems desirable, with our present knowledge, 
to consider the oldest of the old tools as post-glacial in age. Every known 
form of palzolithic implement occurs amongst these older tools; pointed, 
ovate, chisel-edged, fabricator-like tools, missile-like nodules, scrapers, 
cores, flakes and all the erratic forms common to implement-bearing 
gravels. The majority of the older tools are a little abraded, in a few the 
abrasion is considerable. 
Amongst these remains are numerous pieces of tabular flint with 
edges sometimes artificially but more often naturally chipped or bruised. 
The chipped edges of these flints vary in colour in exactly the same manner 
as the chippings upon the finished implements. The chipping therefore 
may be classed as older or newer, whether artificial or natural, and it is 
evident that it belongs to the latest paleolithic period. 
In naturally broken flints it commonly happens that one part has a 
weak and thin edge. This thin edge is especially liable to become broken 
in a way that suggests a hollow scraper, but such natural stones must not 
be confounded with true hollow scrapers, which are amongst the latest, 
highly specialized stone tools. 
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