EXCAVATIONS IN LOUGHTON CAMP, EPPING FOREST. 121
of the camp. Subsequently we returned to XVI. and extended
it into the rampart.
The "Relic-bed" is composed of grey sand, with variegations
of darker and lighter colour. These variegations look like the
chemical effects of root-action, but they are independent of the
existing roots in the soil, either living or dead.
The Camp is situated on Bagshot Sand, with pockets of
drift ; the latter consisting for the most part of pebbly gravel,
although this becomes more clayey in places. The shallow
subsoil immediately under the thin humus consists of a spread
of Tertiary pebbles. This is of much value, as it forms the
conspicuous "bed-rock" from the archaeological point of view.
The Bagshot Sand, which is originally yellowish or ochreous
in colour, normally weathers to a uniform brown, quite unlike
the variegated grey of the "Relic-bed." This is true, not
only in its original position, but also where it is artificially thrown
up to form the ramparts. Yet there can be no question that
the "Relic-bed" is substantially Bagshot Sand, and so I think
there must have been some original difference ; possibly it may
have contained remains of bone or other culinary waste.
The "Relic-bed" overlies the original subsoil and humus,
which is seldom more than 3 inches thick, and itself reaches a
maximum thickness of 2 feet, but is usually somewhat ess.
In certain patches, the flint industry and cooking-stones (or
"pot-boilers") were more abundant than usual. In these
patches, the flakes and pot-boilers occurred throughout the thick-
ness of the "Relic-bed," and also under it in the former surface
soil. Area XX. was the only spot in which pot-boilers were
found in any quantity.
As I have found the same flint industry outside the camp,
it seemed not improbable that the "Relic-bed" with its flint
flakes might be earlier than the Camp, and would be found to
pass under the ramparts. I therefore examined the junction
between "Relic-bed" and ramparts in a number of different
places, and followed it for considerable distances. Everywhere
the "Relic-bed" overlapped the foot of the ramparts in the
clearest possible manner. In the case of the inner bank in area
XIX. a thin layer of "Relic-bed" passed right over the top of
the bank, thickening on either side as the underlying bank
became thinner. The charcoal hearth (c) seen in the section