May, 1890. quaternary deposits of Shropshire. 
Ill 
mountains. I have been blamed for deluging our members 
with too much geology. Naturally, I speak more freely on 
what I know most about; but I now invite you to join me in 
an investigation which may throw light upon a period which 
comes within the scope of the archaeologist. In a mole-like 
manner, I have been accustomed to burrow deep into the 
foundations of the earth’s crust. But I do not now ask you 
to follow me down to the realm of “ chaos and ancient night.” 
I desire to introduce you to one of the most recent of the geo¬ 
logical epochs, to the period when the British Islands were 
preparing for their final emergence from the waves, and man 
had already appeared upon the earth. 
The superficial deposits of Shropshire have received some 
notice from Mr. G. Maw, in “ The Quarterly Journal of the 
Geological Society ” for 1864, and from Mr. G. J. Woodward, 
in a paper read before the British Association, in 1865. More 
recently (in 1869), Miss C. Eyton, in her “ Notes on the 
Geology of North Shropshire,” has given an excellent descrip¬ 
tion of many of the sections. Our knowledge, however, of 
the glacial epoch, to which these deposits belong, has greatly 
increased during the last twenty years, and in the light of the 
new theories we may hope to advance upon the conclusions 
of our predecessors. I should add that a committee of the 
British Association has been for many years investigating the 
glacial phenomena of Britain. Their work will not interfere 
with ours, and Dr. Crosskey, of Birmingham, the secretary of 
the committee, will only be too glad to know of any success 
we may win. 
Before I indicate the most fruitful fields of enquiry, I 
must sketch the state of our present knowledge. 
The glacial formations of Shropshire consist chiefly of 
sand and gravel. Associated with these are patches of clay 
containing fragments of rock. Similar blocks, but often of 
great size, are scattered in large numbers over the surface of 
the country without any visible relation with the other 
deposits. 
The sands and gravels have been noticed in the valley of 
the Severn, near Ironbridge, at many points near Wellington, 
and at numerous localities in the northern plain of the county. 
I have recently seen them on Grinshill Hill, just below the 
summit, and Mr. E. S. Cobbold, F.G.S., a member of the 
Caradoc Club, informs me that he has found drift gravels and 
boulders on the Longmynd up to 1,000 feet. At Ketley, the 
sands are beautifully rippled, as by the action of the waves. 
Marine shells, including the common cockle, are found here 
and at many other localities. Besides the fossil remains of 
