undisturbed Beds of Gravel, Sand, and Clay.
299
weapons, closely resembling in form that from Amiens, Plate XV. No. 2. Those engraved, as well as some other specimens, were presented to this Society, and are still preserved in our Museum. They are so identical in character with some of those from the valley of the Somme, that they might be supposed to have been made by the same hand. Mr. Frere remarks, that they are evidently weapons of war, fabricated and used by a people who had not the use of metals, and that, if not particularly objects of curiosity in themselves, they must be considered in that light from the situation in which they were found. He says, that they lay in great numbers at a depth of about twelve feet in a stratified soil, which was dug into for the purpose of raising clay for bricks, the strata being disposed horizontally, and presenting their edges to the abrupt termination of high ground.
The section is described by him as follows:—
1. Vegetable earth11/2 feet. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
2. Argill (brick-earth)71/2 feet. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
3. Sand mixed with shells and other marine substances1 foot. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
4. A gravelly soil, in which the flints are found, generally at the rate of five or six in a square yard2 feet. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
The analogy between this section and some that might be adduced from the neighbourhood of Abbeville or Amiens is remarkable; and here also the weapons are stated to have been found in gravel underlying brick-earth.
To make the analogy more complete, "in the stratum of sand (No. 3) were found some extraordinary bones, particularly a jaw-bone of enormous size, with the teeth remaining in it," which was presented, together with a huge thigh-bone found in the same place, to Sir Ashton Lever.
I at once communicated so remarkable a confirmation of our views to Mr. Prestwich, who lost no time in proceeding to Hoxne, to which place I have also paid subsequent visits in his company. We found the brick-field there still in operation, but the section of course considerably altered since the time when Mr. Frere visited it. Where they were digging at the time when we saw the pit for the first time the section was as follows:—
1. Surface-soil and a few flints2ft. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
2. Brick-earth, consisting of a light brown sandy clay, divided by an irregular layer of carbonaceous clay12 ft. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
3. Yellow sand and sub-angular gravel6 in. to 1 ft. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
4. Grey clay, in places peaty, and containing bones, wood, and fresh-water and land shells2 to 4 ft. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ |
