2l8 
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 
figures. It was concluded that this base was probably of 15th century 
workmanship. 
Proceeding up the valley for a mile, a halt was again made at the 
Bordeaux Gravel-pit. Here some time was spent and a short address 
given by our President, Mr. William Whitaker. The piping of the gravel 
by the infiltration of carbonated water with the removal of chalk and the 
deposition of ferruginous clay was noted. Boulders of quartzite, canon- 
shot gravel and other glacial debris were also examined. 
Between Chesterford (the Roman station of Iceanum) and Ickleton, 
Mr. George Morris pointed out the zonation of the valley-flora. The 
succession was sedge, rush and meadow, which from narrow bands round 
the spring head expand into rough rush, meadow and fen (as one proceeds 
northward). At this point the expansion of the Juncus community was 
very evident, but time did not allow for a detailed examination. 
Driving through Ickleton, just over the county boundary into Cam¬ 
bridgeshire, a dry valley was reached, along the sides of which extend 
a series of artificial terraces known as Lynchetts. These are 
flat-topped grassy terraces cut one above the other into the slope of the 
hill and extending nearly half-a-mile (formerly quite f mile) along the 
contour. Their purpose and age appear to be quite unknown, but they 
are probably of pre-historic date. A tumulus occurs on the opposite hill, 
half a mile distant. On the surface of the field above these terraces a 
large number of Neolithic flakes occur, characterised by a dense white 
patina which occasionally shows striation or scratching. Mr. Maynard 
had submitted a series to Dr. Sturge in view of the present meeting. After 
a number had been collected on the field, the party assembled on the 
sloping bank and Mr. Maynard gave a short address dealing with these 
implements. 
Many of the specimens show resemblance of patina and surface to the 
well-known “ Grimes Graves ” and “ Cissbury ” type, around the dating 
of which discussion is still centred, but Dr. Sturge considers that they 
also strongly resemble a senes of flakes which he obtained from a floor 
deposit in Suffolk, where they were associated with “ dos rebattu " knives 
and long thick scrapers of undoubted “ Cave ” age. 
One iron-moulded core found at Coploe Hill was definitely accepted 
by Dr. Sturge as dating from the “ Cave ” period, but he thought that 
the majority of the specimens sent to him were of the earlyNeolithic period, 
mainly coming into the heavily striated senes called by him the Old 
Whites.” The blue-and-white mottled patina also occurs, and cases of 
re-chipping are found. No definite implements such as the Cissbury 
axe have yet been secured, but several cores with a striking platform at 
both ends and numerous flakes ranging from two to four inches in length 
and one to three wide, trimmed or truncated so as to form a sharp and 
almost leaf-shaped point, seem to be the dominant form in the collection. 
Certain specimens leave no doubt that this form was intentionally pro¬ 
duced and had a definite use. There are also small blocks of flint covered 
with steep-sided chipping strongly suggestive of a rough form of Tarte 
plane,” a well known tool found in the Aurignacian period cave deposits. 
Other series recalling “ bee de perroquet forms of the cave period occur 
and a multitude of roughly chipped waste flakes. 
