1916.] THE NEOLITHIC PEHIOD. 403 



nearly pure moss. This has now become quite gelatinous. 

 The next and all the upper layers show that marsh and bog 

 plants had their turn and were replaced by plants of more 

 vigorous structure with fibrous, and in some cases, woody 

 roots Then the sea broke in and the deposit was buried 

 under the latest sand deposit. It is therefore fairly certain 

 that the lower parts of the deposits represent the portions of 

 the forest on which men could roam and therefore the level at 

 which most of their implements can be found. 



As regards the upper peat bed at Vazon, all I need say is 

 that it probably is post-Neolithic all through. 



At La Motte, in Jersey, there is a deposit of the latest 

 date which is the equivalent of the marine layer of Tunnel 

 Street, which is between the peat deposits and of our 3 feet 

 of sand, in the same position. 



Dr. Marett says of " The marine silt with litoral shells 

 that occurs between the two beds of peat in the Tunnel Street 

 section must be treated as due to the same cause operating on 

 a lower plane. Mr. Clement Reid assigns this last subsidence 

 to late Neolithic times and gets a date for it of about 1,500 

 B.C." It will be seen that this estimate is in accord with 

 Austin's, and we may, I think, adopt it as approximately 

 correct. 



The sea-level did not rest at the elevation of about 

 12 feet above its present height, but fell again to a slightly 

 lower level. As we have now reached historical times it has 

 been found possible to estimate the recent changes of level 

 with some near approach to certainty. Mr. Clement Reid, 

 already quoted above, says in his " Submerged Forests," 

 page 114 : " Working backward from the present day, step by 

 step,' archaeological evidence gives an undoubted period of 

 2,000 years during which no measurable change of sea-level 

 has taken place in the south of England." 



While admitting the broad truth of the above statement, 

 I think the evidence of our own coast shows that the sea-level 

 has been very slowly rising during the period spoken of. My 

 reason for this opinion can be easily given. It is formed on 

 the facts of sea erosion which can be verified. In both islands 

 there is evidence of loss of land on the sea margins which 

 have been cultivated and have formed parts of well-known 

 estates. The remains of the buildings have in some cases 

 been found and their ground plans traced. I will recall to 

 the minds of my readers the statement that sea erosion gains 

 on the land when the sea-level is rising. It follows that these 

 losses are brought about by a rising sea-level be that rise ever 



K 



