NOTES ON A HUMAN SKELETON.
167
inches from the upper surface, a human skeleton. By a careful
excavation the greater part was got out, and I now exhibit it.
On further examination I found indications of disturbance of the
soil, and the position of the skeleton was not altogether in
parallelism with the lie of the formation, I presumed, although
there is no direct evidence, that the skull and other parts of the
skeleton belonged to the same individual.
The body seemed to have been placed in the ground without
any rite or ceremony, and appeared to have lain face downwards.
The lower part of the legs appeared doubled up under the body,
but I could not find parts of the
feet. The vertebras also appeared
to be twisted. The body lay N.
and S., the head being south.
It should be added that the
site of the pit is at a point
formed by the intersection of a
small cross-valley, at right angles
to the main valley, and it com-
mands a considerable view—just
such a spot where one would
expect to find a tumulus or
ancient burial - ground, but no
trace of any such works could be

discovered.
The above facts seem to throw

FIG. 3.—PLAN OF GRAVE,
SHOWING POSITION OF SKELETON.
doubt on the hypothesis that
the remains had any direct connection with the Glacial formation
in which they were embedded. But having found the skull in
an environment of Glacial-drift, I may be pardoned in having
been at first inclined to throw out a suggestion of Glacial or
Post-glacial origin, as it appears probable that man existed as
far back as the Glacial Period. A consideration of the facts,
however, seems to indicate that we have here remains of a later
origin. I have presented the skeleton to the Essex Museum of
Natural History, so that it may be preserved for future study by
some competent craniologist.