262
A NEOLITHIC FLOOR.
Roman occupation, the conditions have reverted to much about
the same as those which maintained in late Celtic times, when
the Red Hills were formed.
Further examination of such deposits as those at Hullbridge
may do much to throw light on many important questions
relating to our early history, which are at present surrounded
with doubt and uncertainty, and regarding which the evidence
appears to be so contradictory.
Notes on the Relics from Hullbridge.
Although some of the objects from Hullbridge have been found in the
silt, there is little doubt that most of them came originally from the peat,
having been washed out by the tides.
The chipped axe-head (Fig. 1, plate XVII.) is an instance of this, it hav-
ing been found in the mud on the "cant," but from the workmanship and
the nature of the flint, there seems little reason to doubt that its origin
is the same as that of the implements found in the peat.
It is, of course, probable that relics found in a peat-bed of such thickness
may represent a long period of time and be capable of sub-division according
to their position either in the base or at the top of the deposit. On the
same grounds, it might be questioned whether the pottery is of the same
age as the flints, or whether it is later. In the absence of any
strict observation as to the position of the relics, it is not possi-
ble to say anything definite on this point, but judging from the
character of the implements, they may all belong to the same
period. They bear the same bold flaking from fresh, black flint,
which would seem to have been brought from elsewhere. That the
implements were made on the spot seems certain from the number of
flakes and cores that appeared in profusion throughout the peat. Pot-
boilers and patches of burnt earth, marking the position of fires, also
occurred at various levels in the deposit.
All the implements, that have so far been found, are quite consistent
with the Neolithic period. There is an absence of the generally recognised
arrow-heads or later types of implements. No instance of a polished
implement has occurred, although some have been found lower down
the river, in the mud of its bed.
In addition to the chipped axe, already referred to, others of a rougher
description have been found. There are also many tools made from
flakes, of which some characteristic examples are shown on Plate XVII.
No. 2 is a chisel, 3 an awl or borer, 4 and 6 scrapers, and 5 a knife.
The double hollow-scraper (4) is an interesting and uncommon form.
The hollows at the sides may probably have served in securing the object
in a handle of bone or wood, but it is also possible that these hollows were
of more functional importance, as frequently scrapers and flakes are
found with one such hollow only (Plate XV., No. 8), and similar objects
have been used by the American Indians, as a kind of spoke-shave for
smoothing the stems of arrows.
Mr. H. S. Toms, of the Brighton Museum, figures a double hollow-