106 A SUPPOSED NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT.
pointing of stakes. Not much of this material could be kept for
inspection ; large stems and trunks of trees—elm and oak—were
thrown back into the excavated pit. But I have saved a few
stakes, showing careful pointing. I have cut up some of the
oak and polished pieces, as examples of solidity and fine mate-
rial, of which bog-oak ornaments might be made. I took
sketches of oak poles cut partly through on each side, and then
broken in two, so as to furnish a pair of pointed stakes from one
piece. I have still an oak pile, pointed at both ends, measuring
about 9 feet in length and 5 inches in diameter. The chopped-
off twigs of all kind of woods then in growth are found mixed up
with stiff clay, sand, and gravel, along with nuts, acorns, and
leaves, to form the floor of the habitation. The prevailing twigs
identified are of birch ; the bark is still bright and glossy. The
most decayed examples of piles and logs are of elm. I think
that there is much fir. Yew is found, and the wood is still hard,
and capable of taking a high polish. The oak stakes were
squared and split in a rude and primitive manner.
Stone Implements and "Flakes."
No large celt of the polished kind has been found in
the relic-bearing bed. A portion of a polished celt is in my
collection at the Club's Museum. This was found near the site
and on the bank of the Pod brook. Numbers of finely-made
and well-polished celts have been found in and near Braintree.
I found two finely-chipped flint javelins, leaf-shaped, of the long
or oval Barrow period, in conjunction with four polished celts
of porcelain texture, at Kelvedon (these are in the Club's
Museum). A javelin of exactly the same kind was found
in the deep beds of the settlement associated with flakes and
bones (see fig. 7). I therefore conclude that large polished
stone celts belong to, and may yet be found at, Skitts Hill.
A Hammer-stone or Axe was found in the valley, on
the surface, within a few hundred yards of the settle-
ment. It is slightly damaged on the underside. It is in
length 6 ins., 3 ins. wide in the middle, and brought to a blunt
point at both ends ; weight, 2 lbs. ; made from a dark basalt
or quartzite stone, rubbed to a smooth surface. This agrees
with such as are found in Denmark, undrilled, and made to be
used in the hand, without hafting, and it is identical with one
in the Christy collection, British Museum.