NEOLITHIC SITES IN UPPER VALLEY OF ESSEX CAM.
59
The rock is Middle Chalk and the nearest exposure of Boulder
Clay is two miles to the south at Strethall. The surface soil
on the brow of the hill is composed entirely of comminuted chalk,
with very little humus, which passes into a clayey rain-wash
on the lower slopes and valley bottom. The nearest water is
the River Cam, about a half-mile distant at the nearest point.
Abundant flakes, but traces of secondary working rare. Flakes
of the chalk soil have a white patina, which is often glazed or
scratched; on the lower slopes there is a change towards the
mottled blue patina with iron staining on the aretes. Speci-
mens from this site were examined by Dr. Allen Sturge and
described by him as being probably of Cissbury culture (3).
The site is situated above and extending over the north end
of the cultivation terraces (lynchetts) on the west of Coploe
Hill. The exposed position of the site, the distance from water
and the nature of the flakes, indicate that it is probably a site
of manufacture only and not a site of habitation. The extension
of flakes over the terraces of the lynchetts is significant and
points to a possible Neolithic origin for these earthworks.
II. Great Chesterford, Site A. Essex. Sheet II., N.E.
Longitude 0° 11' 36" E. latitude 52° 4' 4" N. Elevation
129 ft. O.D., about 20 feet above the level of the river. Field
on the west of the main Cambridge road, about 700 yards N.N.W.
of the church and about 160 yards from the last house, north
of the village.
The surface is level and is on a terrace of the main river valley,
about 1/4 of a mile from the stream course. The terrace consists
of post-glacial gravels of the Barnwellian Series. These are
chalky gravels with interstratified sands and loam and contain
remains of Elephas primigenius and Rhinoceros tichorhinus,
etc. (10). The surface soil is a dark loam with much organic
matter and contains many pot sherds and other remains of the
Roman occupation. It varies in depth from about nine inches
to three feet, and in pits to five feet or more.
The Neolithic material consists of flakes, cores, scrapers,
hammer stones, etc. The bulk of the material is unpatinated,
black and lustrous, though occasionally blue mottled and ochreous
flakes occur. The flakes are often very sharp and unworn,
and occur at a considerable depth in the soil.