EXCAVATIONS IN PILLOW MOUNDS AT HIGH BEACH. 225
Neolithic flakes found in the stony loam (the subsoil) immediately
above it. There was also a heavily patinated Palaeolithic flake
found in the mixed soil (which includes some of the drift) cf which
the same Mound E was composed. So that our one core is
evidently not the only Palaeolithic flint in these pockets cf drift.
Whatever may be the origin and age of the material composing
these high-level drifts the writer has long maintained the view
that they have been very extensively redistributed at much
later dates, more particularly during the rigorous conditions
of the Ponder's End stage. As we see these drifts to-day they
are to a large extent true hill drifts, formed by surface action
at high levels, and contemporary with the valley drifts at low
levels.
Conclusion.—In conclusion I will only say that although we
found nothing spectacular; and although our work has perhaps
rather suggested problems than solved them, I hope that the
Club will feel that it has not been wasted, and was worth doing.
For myself, I think our results, if inconclusive, have at least
strengthened the claim for antiquity and for the specific
date of the Prehistoric Iron Age, for these problematic pillow
mounds.
We began the work with the main idea of trying to find
interments, or something of a tangible nature. I now think that
that is starting with the wrong idea so far as pillow mounds are
concerned. In view of the evidence of fire under the mound
on the Malvern Hills, I think it is the details of the evidence,
upon those lines, and also any preparation of the site before
the lighting of the fire, which should be observed in future
excavations.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XX.
The photograph is taken from the south-west, across the valley of
the larger of the two streams shown on the sketch map (fig. 1). Measuring
in millimetres from the left and lower edges of the photograph the doubtful
mound K is at 8 and 47, mound J at 35 and 48, mound I at 55 and 48,
mound H at 80 and 48, mound W at 75 and 44, mound E at no and 47,
mound N at 95 and 50, and mound D at 105 and 50. Mounds F and G
are in front of E, but are less easy to trace in the photograph. The area
occupied in the picture by mound E is about 35 mm. x 5 mm.