28 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
associated with these workshop floors. Little is known of the
primitive people of this culture beyond the few inferences deduced
from their scattered artifacts, yet the scanty knowledge available
fits perfectly into the pattern of the track. It appears that they were
a nomadic hunting people, frequenting the gravel uplands and
sandy plateaux of the east and south. It is generally believed that
the Tardenoisian culture survived long after the Neolithic invasion
of Britain, and covered a very extensive period of prehistory.
We have therefore concluded that the conglomerate track is the
handiwork of this primitive pedestrian people who frequented the
sandy heaths and gravel uplands of the eastern regions of Britain,
at a period in prehistory not later than the time of the Neolithic
invasions, and who may be identified with the Tardenoisian ele-
ment of Mesolithic culture. This view is supported by the obvious
connection between the track and Grimes Graves, by its imper-
manent character, by its shallow river fords, and by its association
with the known Mesolithic workshop floors. Further support is
forthcoming from a study of the climatic changes in Britain
during this long period. The cyclic fluctuations have been dis-
cussed by Brooks [12], and may be summed up as follows:
1. Boreal period ... dry, cool ... 6500-5200 b.c. Mesolithic
2. Atlantic ... wet, warm ... 5200-3000 b.c. Neolithic
3. Sub-Boreal ... dry, warm ... 3000- 850 b.c. Neolithic
Bronze Age
4. Sub-Atlantic ... wet, cool ... 850- 300 b.c. Iron Age
Brooks concluded that the Neolithic invasions occurred at a time
when the dry Boreal period had ended, and the low-lying areas of
Britain were forest-covered. Yet so many of our sighting-stones
are found in woods and thickets, that we are led to conclude that
at the time they were set up the landscape was far more open than
it is today. This indicates one of the Boreal periods, and, in con-
junction with the remainder of the evidence before us, confirms
our conclusion that this track had its origin in the Mesolithic
period.
COMPLETE LIST OF POINTS ON CONGLOMERATE TRACK
Grid
references Feature Authority, etc.
41/502669 Thatcham "floor" Peake and Crawford, 1920
41/527699 Holly Wood stones Geological Survey, 1867
41/535708 Holly Lane stone
41/690841 Stoke Row stone Confirmed
41/727867 Bixbottom stone At entrance to farm
41/731870 Warmescombe stone At side of lane
41 /754890 Kimble stone Forecourt of farmhouse
41/757890 Kimble "floor" Peake
41/777912 Fingest stones In lane south of Church
41/791925 Rackley stone (a) Embedded beside lane to farm