R. PENNINGTON ON THE CASTLETON BONE-CAVES, 239 



Before we commenced work, the height from roof to floor varied 

 from 1 foot to 4| feet ; when dug out the height from rock to rock 

 varied from 2 feet to 6| feet ; and the depth of the deposit varied 

 from 1 foot to 4^ feet. The cave extended right and left from the 

 entrance, its breadth (as contrasted with its length, 11 feet) was 

 about 14 feet. 



On the south side, inside, where the deposit was not more than 2 

 feet thick, and outside, where it was about 4 feet thick, it consisted 

 first of a layer of debris, consisting of blackish earth (AB) inter- 

 spersed with angular fragments of limestone. The colour varied more 

 or less ; but no definite line of parting could be drawn. 



Below this was a well-defined layer of yellow earth, with limestone 

 fragments (fig. 1, E), much resembling the ordinary subsoil of this 

 district, known locally as " fox-earth." 



On the northern side, however, a different state of things ap- 

 peared. First there was a superficial layer of black earth free 

 from stone (A), and (secondly) below it a layer of yellowish earth in- 

 cluding limestone fragments (B). These were not of the same 

 thickness throughout ; at the entrance they were together about 2 

 feet thick. Below them there was (thirdly) a layer of stalagmite (C), 

 varying in thickness from 4 inches to 1 foot, and extending beneath 

 overhanging rocks some little distance outside. This was an ex- 

 ceedingly well-defined bed ; it had evidently in one stage of the cave's 

 history grown over one half of its floor, whilst stalactites were being 

 formed from above; for some had fallen and become welded into the 

 stalagmite below. The stalagmite was exceedingly clear and white ; 

 it contained few bones, but included some fragments of limestone and 

 numerous shells of Helix. Below the stalagmite was another layer 

 of black earth (D), including limestone fragments to a greater ex- 

 tent than the earth above the stalagmite, and also small lumps of 

 carbonate of lime. 



Beneath this and next to the rock was the same layer of yellow 

 earth (E) which extended beneath that part of the cave-floor which 

 was destitute of the stalagmite. 



A section of the entrance is shown in the sketch, fig. 1 (which, 

 however, is not drawn to scale). 



All the strata were more or less disturbed by the burrowing of 

 rabbits. 



The earth above the stalagmite, and that extending down to the 

 yellow layer where no stalagmite was present, contained a most 

 miscellaneous assortment of articles, no doubt mixed up to a great 

 extent by the rabbits. Pieces of old-fashioned pots of a late period 

 lay not far from bits of rude prehistoric pottery. 



Of animals, determined by Mr. Boyd Dawkins, there were many 

 bones of the Celtic short-horn (Bos longifrons) and goat (Copra 

 hircus) both of young and old subjects ; and many of them were 

 broken, evidently purposely to get out the marrow. There were 

 also a number of jaws and teeth, and a few bones, of hogs of various 

 ages. 



Proof of the human occupation of the cave as a dwelling-house 



