IN THE THAMES BASIN.
105
In the North London district from west of Acton (see Allen
Brown, "Notes on the High-level Valley Drift between Hanwell
and Iver," Proc. Geologists' Assoc. xiv., 1895)8 to Stoke Newington
and Ilford, a vast number of implements have been obtained.
At Acton itself is the site of the first large discovery of
Polaeolithic implements in the Thames Basin. This was by
Pitt-Rivers, who described9 his investigations in 1872. They
chiefly came from the base of the gravel of the highest terrace.
His work has been carried on by Allen Brown, who has dis-
covered old surface planes in this terrace. On one of these,
exposed in two small pits in the Creffield Road, he found at
about six feet from the surface nearly 400 implements and
flakes. It was "evident that there had been a manufactory of
Palaeolithic implements on this floor, since they were often found
together in nests, and they are all as sharp and unabraded as on
the day they were made."10 A complete summary of his dis-
coveries, with a list of other neighbouring localities is given in
his book, Palaeolithic Man in N.W. Middlesex (London, 1887).
From the middle terrace (the low-level valley drift is here split
up into two distinct terraces, making three in all) he obtained
the semi-circular axe-head already referred to. This is one of the
several localities in the Lower Thames Valley which have
yielded remains of the reindeer.
Even more interesting are the similar discoveries made at
Stoke Newington by Worthington Smith, whose researches date
back to 1879. Several fully illustrated papers written by Mr.
Smith for the Essex Field Club,11 and a resume of his labours is
given in his book entitled Man the Primaeval Savage. These
memoirs are most important contributions to our knowledge, and
should be consulted by all interested in Palaeolithic man, not
only on account of the interesting facts and investigations
described in them, but also because of the numerous and very
neatly executed drawings of implements and sections scattered
throughout the papers and book. Many neighbouring localities
besides Stoke Newington are mentioned in them.
8 P. Crooke and J. Allen Browne have also obtained a number of tongue-shaped and
other implements, together with the skeleton of an elephant at Southall. See Proc.
'Geologists' Assoc. x.
9 "On Discovery of Palaeolithic Implements in Gravels of the Thames Valley at Acton."
Q.J.G.S., xxxiii. (1872)
10 Quart Journ. Geological Soc, xlii . also Proc Soc. Antiquaries 2nd Ser. xi. 1887.
11 Worthington Smith: "Primaeval Man in the Valley of the Lea," Trans. E.F.C. iii.
102, Essex Nat. i., 36, ib. i., 83, ib. i., 125; "Neolithic and Palaeolithic Scrapers, Replaced
and Reworked," Essex Nat. ii., 67; "Palaeolithic Implements—Large and Heavy
Examples," E.N. ii., 97,