390 PROCEEDING? AT MEETINGS OF

"Stone implements of the Palicolithic Period, so far as we at present know, were niaile exclnsively of one or other of tliree varieties of stone — tiiiit, chert, or quartzite. There is, I beheve, but one soUtary exception at present known, a j»ointed ovoid ini])lement of true Pahvolitliic type made of feist one. It was found at CJravel Hill, near Bi-andi>n, and is in the collection of Mr. John Evans, who has recently tii^ured it in his magniticent work on the 'Ancient Stone Implements of (.!reat Britain.* " This unique specimen, however, in conuuon with those of flint, diert, or quartzite, is fashioned entirely by flaking or chipj>ing. It would appear that the people of the Paheolithic Period were wholly unac- quainted with any other method of fashioning stone. The i)rocesses of j)ccking and grinding seem to have been unknown to them, if we cxcej>t the instance atVorded by a few small bouldei-s (found in certain cavo deposits), in which shallow depressions have Vieen made by '• pecking." " Palieolithic implements have been obtained by Mr. Head from four difl'erent excavations in the neighbourhood of Southampton, one being at Freemantle,.and the three othei-s on S<)utham])ton Conunon; one (the Town Pit) is stated to be more than 100 ft. above the mean sea-level. Other paheolithic implements found in various })arts of Hampshire are exhibited in your temporary Museum. Some of these were obtained from the eastern shore of Southampton "Water, in the neighbourhood of Hill Head, and some were found on Southsea Common, east of Ports- mouth. " On the other side of Spithead, at the Foreland or more eastern j)oint of the Isle of Wight, a single Paheolithic implement has been foiuid. Several examijles have been obtained from the gravels near Bournemouth. It would seem that the Avon and Stour were, in remote times, aftluents of a river running from west to east, and a portion of this river, now widened out by the sea, has become the Solent, between the Isle of "Wight and the mainland. The course of this ancient river was probably a little to the south and seaward of the present line of coast at Bourne- mouth; and some of the gravels which formerly lined its valley now cap the clilfs for some distance between Poole Ilarliour and llengisbury Head, as well as tliose farther east.^ "Other Hatiipsiiiie PalieoUtliic specimens in your temporary Museum were found at Asliford, near Fordingl)ridge, and at Ihockenhurst. " But to return to the consideration of the anti(iuity of Palreolithic implements. It is, of course, contended that the anti(piity of tlieso im- plemeuts is at least as great as that of the gi'avels in which they are found. If this be conceded the matter becomes a mere geological question. " My obscrvationH ujuni the anti<|uity of those gnivels shall bo a« brief as |K>ssible, and I will confine my remarks to the gravels near Salisbury, OH heing those with which I am l)eHt ai-i|uainted. " The rivers Willy, Avon, and Bourne (low into each other at Sali.s- Ijuiy. The two former, the ^Villy ami the Avon, are divided near their point of union by a tongue of land, which, near the village of Bemerton, riKCH to the height of about .SO ft. above the prem-iit river level, and is ovej-Hpread at this spot liy a layer of iiiipU'ment-bearing gravel. A Hirnilar bed of gravel occuin at Milfonl Hill, upon the neck of land ' Fig. 442, p. CIO. ' KviiiiM, "Ancient .'-tono lMii>lfin(!ntH," p. CiO.