CORRELATION OF THE PREHISTORIC "FLOOR." 281
beaker by some little space, we cannot place later than s.d. 50 ;
nor, if the prevalent idea of the comparative lateness of the
barbed arrow-point be correct, can we place it earlier than s.d.
40. This is, indeed, placing the barbed arrow-point somewhat
early, but I do not see how the Earlier Series can be placed other
than between the limits of these dates.
VII.—CONCLUSION: THE GENERAL CORRELATION
OF THE BURIED PREHISTORIC SURFACE.
In the foregoing account, I have brought together the
evidence relating to the Buried Prehistoric Surface of Essex,
and of its extension northwards to Lincolnshire, and west-
wards to Devonshire, Somersetshire, and South Wales. I have
endeavoured to show that although there are many buried
surfaces of different ages, some dating from the close of the
Pleistocene Period, there is yet one well-marked and widely-
spread surface of special importance from an archaeological
point of view. For the sake of distinction, it is proposed to
call this the "Lyonesse" surface, it being understood that
its identification with the Lyonesse of tradition is purely con-
jectural. Strictly, it is only to be taken, as we take "Silurian,"
as a definite name for a definite thing.
This surface is commonly seen exposed beneath the peat at a
level of about two to five feet above low water mark, but it of
course rises higher than this, and merges into the present surface
of the dry land of to-day, and it probably also descends con-
siderably lower. Judging from the prehistoric remains that are
found upon this surface, it appears that it was submerged beneath
the sea at, or about, the "Sequence Date" of [9] 58, or slightly
earlier.
This surface frequently lies upon rainwash or marsh
clays containing prehistoric remains which do not seem
to be earlier than between s.d. 40 and s.d. 50. Thus
the remains on the "Lyonesse" surface are usually confined
between the Sequence Dates 50 and 60 as their extreme limits.
Sometimes, however, where the surface rests upon the country
rock, some of its remains may date from an earlier stage.
There can be little doubt that the "floor" at Hullbridge
comes generally into line with this surface as seen elsewhere.