THE "RED HILLS" OF CANVEY ISLAND. 149
Pots manufactured on the same site and transported for
domestic use in settlements elsewhere would serve as containers
for corn,9 for the collection and storage of water, for the brine
pickling of meat and fish, and perhaps for the transport and
storage of salt itself, a very hygroscopic substance. The type of
pot suitable for general domestic use would almost certainly
differ from that left behind on the site and conjecturally used
for the evaporation of sea-water.
The possible glazing of the briquetage ware to render it less
porous is referred to later.
EXCAVATION WORK ON THE CANVEY ISLAND SITES.
Blackmore Avenue.
Blackmore Avenue bisects a low mound of a diam. about 65
yds. on a N.S. line. On the eastern half of the mound four holes
were dug, 2ft. 6ins. to 3ft. wide by 6ft. to 8ft. long at the surface.
The working length of a hole at the bottom was 4ft. to 5ft., two
steps being cut at one end for entry and egress. The turf was
first removed, and the vertical measurements recorded for a
hole were made from the surface level thus exposed. The soil
to a depth of 6ins. was then carefully loosened by a small fork
and examined before removal for pottery and briquetage. The
loosened soil was then thrown out on to its appropriate heap
and further examined. This process was continued until the
critical layers were reached, viz.:—
(a) Reddish cindery burnt earth.
(b) Working "floor"—the "red-floor"—a compact layer of
fine, bright red fragments, 2ins. to 4ms. thick.
(c) Layers of sandy clay in the lower levels.
Careful note was made of the character of the layers of soil
passed through, and samples were taken for determination of the
percentage of sand recoverable by a simple washing process.
The results are recorded in the tables.
At hole "A," 5 yards from the top of the mound, the turf
level of the slope is about 1ft. below the H.T.L. of the Creek
(12ft. above O.D.); a clay bottom, with 3 per cent. sand, was
9 See Dr. F. Keller, "Lake Dwellings of Switzerland," p. 148, 2nd Edit. transl.