A HISTORY OF ESSEX alluvium down to the London Clay 1 ; it may possibly be that this shows only that the makers cleared away the soil, but considering the enormous size of some sites, this would have been an herculean task for which it is difficult to suggest a motive. Is it not more conceivable that the mounds were formed before the deposition of the alluvium ? The use of these mounds is as uncertain as their age, though their position in relation to the tide ought perhaps to throw some light on the subjects ; Mr. H. Slopes 2 to whom we are mainly indebted for our information, states that ' they lie, as a rule, just above the average high- water mark, or its level, where the saltings 3 have been inclosed, as after conversion into marshes, the saltings always shrink, chiefly from loss of water, to much below their original level.' It must however be noted that some of these mounds are above the level referred to, near streams containing no other than fresh water. Mr. W. H. Dalton, F.G.S., suggests that they were camp sites or places of refuge ' when the surrounding country was densely covered with forest, except the belt between normal high water and the storm range of spring tides.' The late Rev. J. C. Atkinson regarded them as relics of salt works * for the evaporation of salt from sea water. The burning of kelp or seaweed for the sake of the ashes in the manufacture of glass is also suggested, but indications point to an age prior to the knowledge or great use of glass. The more popular and possibly correct notion is that of Mr. W. Cole, F.L.S., who believes them the sites of potters' works. This belief is strengthened by the discovery of wedge-shaped pieces of hard burnt pottery about 4 inches high, similar to those now used in Staffordshire for supporting articles in the course of firing. 8 Occasion- ally these supports (if such was their purpose) are found of a cylindrical form with a flat base or top somewhat of T shape and about j inches high. The hills are scattered through various parishes, including Burn- ham, Clacton (G.), Fambridge (S.), Fingrinhoe, Foulness, 6 Goldhanger, Langenhoe, Mersea (E. and W.), Mundon, Pagglesham, Peldon, St. Osyth, Salcott, Southminster, Steeple, Tilbury (E.), Tillingham, Tolles- bury, Virley, Walton-on-Naze and Wigborough (L.). No accurate computation has been made of the number of those remaining ; many have been removed for the sake of their material, which is found useful as a dressing upon clay-lands, others have been so lowered as to be scarce noticed, but it is believed that from 1 50 to 200 yet exist, affording a fine 1 Mr. H. Slopes in Essex Naturalist, 1887, i. 99.
- 'The Salting Mounds of Essex,' Essex Naturalist, 1887, i. 96.
8 'Saltings' are areas of land between the range of high water at spring and neap tides respec- tively. 4 Arch. Journ. 1880, vol. xxxvii. 5 In the Museum at Stratford Mr. Cole shows such modern wedges side by side with those from the Red hills. 8 Mr. W. H. Dalton does not consider this to have been a true ' Red hill.' 308
