24 MR. W. G. CLARKE ON NEOLITHIC MAN IN THETFORD DISTRICT. 
tlic implements were found, usually from twelve to twenty feet 
beneath the surface. The majority of the implements were of a 
deep ochreous colour, and one of the largest known Paleolithic 
tools was excavated here, and is now in the collection of Mr. Flowers. 
The flint for these implements not having been obtained by excava- 
tion, they are necessarily rather rough, the two most common types 
being pear and almond-shaped. A splendid series of Paleolithic 
implements from the river-gravel at Thetford and Santon Downliam 
may be seen in the Fitch Poora at the Norwich Castle-Museum. 
The neighbourhood of Thetford, too, has also produced one of the 
few lake-dwellings found in this country. Wretham West Mere 
was drained of its waters in 1851, and there, underneath eight feet 
of mud, were found bones of the Red Deer, and the now extinct 
Long-faced Ox (Bos longifrons). There was also a wall built of 
flints packed together with marl, and bones and portions of a 
rudely-constructed ladder. In short, hidden beneath the placid 
waters of a Breckland Mere, was the home of a people who ate 
the meat of the Long-faced Ox, hunted the Red Deer and used its 
antlers for pickaxes to excavate the flint, and who broke open its 
bones to obtain the marrow. Oak-wood piles, shaped and pointed 
by man, Avere also found in Wretham Great Mere in 1856, relics 
of another lake-dAvelling. 
Having thus briefly noticed previous discoveries of prehistoric 
relics in Thetford district, we Avill turn our attention to Neolithic 
Man, and the traces of his residence in this part of the country. 
But first, what manner of man was he 1 We can picture him thus. 
Seated at the foot of a huge pine tree, on the verge of the broad 
expanse of water which filled out the ancient river-valley of the 
Little Ouse. Behind him, the forest depths with their indefinable 
mystery — the haunt of many a wild beast. He feels none of the 
nervous apprehension which a highly- civilised man of the present 
day would experience, since such subtle development of the nervous 
system Avould at that date have been fatal to future progress of the 
race. Standing up, his keen ear quick to detect the faintest sound, 
Ave can see that he is of medium height, Avith long and powerfully 
developed arms, broad shouldered and hipped, but Avith thin flanks, 
a near approach to the typical l'enman. His dress is very simple, 
merely a few skins carelessly sewn together with sinews running 
through holes, pierced either Avith his bone needle or flint aAvl. 
