Ancient Earthwork in Epping Forest. 227
of their labours, and implements were hardly likely to be
found in the rampart; they could only get there by accident
during its erection.
The number, position, and unweathered condition of the
flakes seem to indicate that they were struck off at the time
the camp was made, and that the makers of the structure
used flint tools ; but we put forward this suggestion with
diffidence, as great caution is necessary in making deductions
from the evidence at present in our possession, and we beg
leave to refer to General Pitt-Rivers' separate opinion on this
point given herewith.
Flakes, of course, are the waste splinters of flint struck off
in the manufacture of tools, and were esteemed only as
rubbish by the tool-makers. The question now is—Where
are the finished tools which were produced by the flaking ?
Judging from what we know of other camps, and from the
fact that a body of men, who perhaps used stone weapons
and tools, probably lived inside the camp, it is not unreason-
able to suppose that finished tools may be found within the
space enclosed by the ramparts, if the original floor be
exposed by the removal of a foot or two of the humus by
which it is now covered. In this position, celts, arrow-heads,
"crapers," "knives," "fabricators," and other tools might
be found, as we find them in the soil of other camps when
the interior is disturbed by the plough.
Although none of the specimens appear to precisely agree
in quality and texture with those found in Ambresbury
Banks, still, as in that earthwork, the pottery of the Loughton
Camp may be divided into two classes. The first is very coarse
and of very rude manufacture, the clay being ill-prepared,
and containing fragments of quartz and pebble; the other is
thinner, of finer material, harder and closer in texture, and
without the angular stony grains. Both classes are manifestly
insufficiently fired, and all the specimens are hand-made.
They have been submitted to Mr. A. W. Franks, F.E.S., of
the British Museum, who points out the great difficulty of
accurately estimating the age of rude pottery where no
ornamentation is present to afford a clue, and where only