By Mr. Cunning ton, F.G.S. 347 



carbonate of lime. It is remarkable that the convex side of this 

 implement is brightly polished in minute hollowed facets, similar to 

 the polish that may occasionally be observed on flint implements and 

 pebbles which have been exposed on the surface of the downs. 



At a distance of about a yard from this deposit a small food 

 vessel was discovered, with the mouth upward. Only part of it was 

 saved from the spade. It was rudely formed of imperfectly-burnt 

 clay, much resembling the surrounding earth. Enough, however, 

 remains to show the shape and size. 



The floor of the barrow was reached about 4ft. lower, and here 

 were abundant traces of cremation in the wood ashes irregularly 

 scattered about. There were remains also, of planks of wood, 

 quite decayed and much impregnated with iron, and carbonate, and 

 phosphate of lime. In one place we found what appeared to be the 

 side of a trench, some 6ft. or 7ft. in length, which had been lined 

 with wood; it may have formed part of a cremation pit. The 

 changes wrought during past ages in the chemical condition of the 

 wood and other substances in this barrow, by the infiltration of 

 water, the action of the roots of adjoining trees, and other in- 

 fluences, are well worthy of notice, and we hope, ere long, to interest 

 some good chemist in the subject. 



Among the remains of wood, both decayed, and in the state of 

 charcoal, there were numerous minute tubes produced by carbonate 

 of lime deposited inside the hollows left by the decay of the rootlets 

 of the trees which have penetrated the barrow. The cuticle of the 

 rootlets is apparently replaced by the carbonate of lime, and the 

 microscopic fibrils of these roots are thus beautifully and delicately 

 preserved. 1 But with these there were also found other tubes of the 

 same material, but very different in structure. In external form 

 they somewhat resemble small caterpillars, divided by regular seg- 

 ments, but internally the structure is complicated; and of the six 



i The deposit of carbonate of lime, on the exterior of plants &o is a well, 

 known phenomenon, but we are not aware that attention has hitherto been drawn 

 to the encrusting of the interior surfaces of snch substances. 



