Vol. 65.] TALiEOLITHIC IMPLEMENTS EROM WILTSHIRE. 167 



age (see LI. Treacher, ' On the Occurrence of Stone-Implements in 

 the Thames Valley between Beading and Maidenhead,' in ' Man ' 

 for 1904, No. 10). 



Mr. W. Johnson thought that the Author, in carefully classifying 

 the implements according to the levels at which they were dis- 

 covered, was following a sound principle. The observations, 

 however, would have had enhanced value, if the bottom of the 

 existing valley, rather than the sea-level, were taken as the base 

 from which the heights were measured. The use of the term 

 eolithic, apparently in M. Rutot's sense, as indicating a phase of 

 lithic culture, instead of a definite archaeological period, was con- 

 fusing and regrettable. M. Eutot had actually claimed one such 

 phase, the Flenusien, as existing in the neolithic period. It was 

 true that very rude implements, suggestive of eoliths, were found 

 on the North Downs ; but, apart from their being surface-relics, 

 it was doubtful whether, like eoliths, they could be assigned to 

 a few definite groups. The occurrence, at low levels, of imple- 

 ments rougher than those of the older terraces was no new problem. 

 The Solutreen implements of the Cave Period were often of finer 

 workmanship than those of the succeeding Magdaleuien epoch. 

 But, in paying close attention to stratigraphy and to types, workers 

 like the Author would, by careful classification, greatly assist the 

 geologist. Recently, Mr. William Wright had discovered palseoliths 

 in excavations at Clapham Common. The gravels of Wimbledon 

 Common, however, different in level and in composition, had as yet 

 furnished no such records. It was in such cases that discoveries 

 and grouping by types might help in determining the relative ages 

 of the beds. 



Mr. BIazzledine Warren referred to the difficulty of the problem 

 which was suggested by the series of flints placed upon the table. 

 It was not always easy to discriminate between the real workman- 

 ship of man and the simulation of such workmanship which might 

 be produced by natural causes. There was a serious danger of 

 drawing upon the imagination when insufficient attention was 

 given to the experimental investigation of the physical properties 

 of flint, and its behaviour under the various stresses which may act 

 upon it through the operation of natural forces. It was astonishing 

 how easily the characteristic eolithic notches, and the parallel 

 chipping of the edges, could be produced by the mere pressure of 

 one flint against another. Such pressure might be supplied in many 

 different ways, but especially by the movement or creep of super- 

 ficial deposits. 



With reference to the classification of the palaeolithic tools, the 

 speaker said that this appeared, in his opinion, to be generally 

 sound. Some were described as pre-Chelleen ; he would be sorry 

 to say that this was not the case, but at the same time he thought 

 that further evidence was desirable. Many of the typical examples 

 of the Chelleen series from Chelles itself were extremely rude and 

 primitive, and much resembled those described here as pre-Chelleen. 



