341 



NEOLITHIC REMAINS ON THE DURHAM COAST. 



C. T. TRECHMANN, B.Sc, 



Castle Eden. 



In 'The Naturalist' for March 1904 I described and figured 

 a few implements which had been found on the coast a few 

 miles north of Hartlepool. Searching- further to the north has 

 resulted in the finding of a well-defined working site. It is 

 situated immediately above the shore-line, on the edge of a 

 ravine about 300 yards to the north-east of the new railway 

 station at Horden. 



The site has been well chosen ; it consists of a large tract 

 of clay and drift, partly covered towards the south by a layer 

 of sand. It is protected on the side facing the sea by low sand- 

 banks, which in some parts formi a barrier ; on the north by the 

 ravine above mentioned, and on the west by a smaller ravine 

 adjoining the larger one. Both were probably sources of 

 fresh water. 



The ground slopes gently to the west. The part upon which 

 most of the implements were found consists of about two acres 

 of exposed clayey soil, which, for some reason, has been almost 

 completely bared of vegetation. Possibly the whole was 

 originally covered with sand, which has been removed since the 

 trees surrounding the ravine were cut down. At any rate, the 

 surface has been, and is still being, considerably denuded. The 

 rainwash is plainly evident, and the water runs down towards 

 the west, forming furrows in the clay. 



To the south are some ploughed fields, very similar to those 

 at the Black Halls, which have yielded several flakes and other 

 remains. 



Among the implements picked up on the site are some 

 arrow-heads, including half-a-dozen remarkably symmetrical 

 and two defective examples, this being the only place on the 

 Durham coast where I have succeeded in finding this class of 

 implement. 



The series of scrapers found is characteristic of the district, 

 and there are no very symmetrical specimens amongst them ; in 

 several cases they are formed from a flake which has been struck 

 off the outside of a flint pebble. 



About 500 flakes were picked up, all of small size, scarcely 

 any being above two inches in length. Apparently the flakes 

 were all struck from pebbles found in the clay and on the shore. 

 Large flakes such as are found so plentifully in districts where 



1905 November i. 



