PILE-DWELLING SITE AT SKITT'S HILL, BRAINTREE. 139
somewhat on the side of the stream, the deposit would probably
be a little shallower than at the centre. This depth of the
alluvium agrees with that given by Mr. W. H. Dalton, F.G.S.,
in the Geological Survey Memoir,1 where he states that the section
showed in 1872 "sixteen to eighteen feet of fine grey and buff
loam resting on a thin bed of sandy gravel, in a broad shallow
hollow of the London Clay."
A general view of the excavation is given in Fig. 2., Pl. xxvi. This is taken
from the point C on plan, Fig. 3, and shows at the far end the section on the
line B—D, which is parallel with the hedge, and is the part furthest from the
edge of the original stream on which the spectator is standing.
The lower part of this section, which has come darker on the photograph,
consists of washed clay, containing no organic remains. The overlying light
portion is alluvial brick-earth, above which is the darker surface soil. The man
with the wheelbarrow is standing on the top level of the relic-bed, but in this
portion of the tilling the characteristic black earth containing wood extends from
the bank on which the spectator is standing only to about the spot marked by
the drain-pipe on the left of the picture. From this point it runs obliquely
towards the spectator, F—G on plan, Fig. 3.
The hole, Fig. 5, was dug at the spot marked with the X in Fig. 2, Plate xxvi.
A.F.G.C. The upper portion of the Relic-bed, consisting of a sandy clay about
one foot in thickness, and fairly well conforms to the first spit of the bed.
It should be explained that the workmen dig the deposit in spits of a foot
deep, a method of great service in keeping the relics distinct in their proper
levels.
A.E.G.C. Part of the lower portion of the relic-bed, composed of very black
earth and sand, largely mixed with fragments of wood, twigs, and leaves.
Beyond the darkly shaded portion this level of the relic-bed becomes almost
pure white sand containing little organic matter. This extends only to
within about five feet of the extent of the upper portion of the bed, shown by
the dotted line and along, which lies a log 15 feet long. See Section,
Fig. 5. The thickness of this layer was from one to two feet.
F.B.D.G. Fine washed clay.
It will be seen that the mixed earth of the relic-bed extends
from the side of the stream only about 17 feet on the line C—G,
running obliquely into the bed of the stream to a distance of
about 50 feet on the line A—F. The thickness of this deposit
was greater by about one foot at C—G than at A—F.
All the rest of the filling at this level, the unshaded portion on
the plan F.B.D.G., was the normal clay filling of the stream.
For general section and explanation see Fig. 4 on page 140.
This diagram (Fig. 5) shows the portion of the relic-bed level
which differs from the general filling of the stream in being
principally composed of sand, and contains quantities of wood,
1 Sheet 47, N.W, Essex and N.E. Hefts, p. 66.