TUMULI AND MOUNDS. 29
temporary association. They were probably fish-ponds,
or even ponds for wild-fowl decoys.* 240
Woodham Walter (Miller Christy, E.N., xiii., 1904, pp.
280-282). Records a burnt deposit, about a foot thick,
full of calcined stones, beneath two feet of overlying alluvium
in the bed of an artificial lake. It may be the debris of a
burnt prehistoric pile-dwelling, but this only excavation
could show. Some of these dams doubtless represent
mediaeval mill-pools and fish-ponds. The latter were of
great importance inland when sea fish was practically
unobtainable owing to the. want of quick transport
[143, 325]. 241
Essex (J. French, E.N., xv., 1908, pp. 132-134). Dams are
found in the upper reaches and tributaries of the Lea,
Stort, Chelmer. Ter, Blackwater, and Colne. Suggests
that the artificial ponds were used for Lake Dwellings,
of which the Skitt's Hill site [144] may be an example.
The ancient roads which skirt the alluvium of the main
streams send off branches which connect up the pond-
sites. 242
XIV.—Roads.
Stray notes on early roads may be found in the reports of
excursions [such as 236] ; but, as a rule, these are not of much
importance.
Chalk Causeway (W. Crouch, E.N., ix., 1895, p. 91). A record
of the xivth century relating to the repair of a chalk cause-
way across the Lea Marshes near Stratford-atte-Bowe. 243
The Broomway (E.N., xv., 1907, p. 53, plate). An old road,
marked by "brooms," across the tidal flats to Foulness
Island. 244
XV.—Tumuli and Mounds. (For Salting Mounds, see under
Red Hills.)
Easneye (or Isneye) Park (Proc., iv., 1883, p. xxv.). A
supposed tumulus, about 60 feet diameter, on Mr. A.
Buxton's property. Ancient pottery and flint flakes have
been found near. 245
Bishop Stortford (E Taylor, E.N . ii., 1888, p: 221-223).
The "Castle Mound" is 60 or 70 feet high, and surrounded
by a moat. There are evidences of Roman occupation,
but the mound is probably earlier. 246
Newport (E.N., v., 1891, p. 180). Tumulus in the park of
Ouendon Hall. 247
*Mr. Miller Christy is of opinion that all these works were primarily mill-ponds.