Page:Prehistoric Britain.djvu/64

56 have added much to our knowledge of Palæolithic civilization since the exploration of Kent's Cavern. Numerous specimens of the so-called "palæoliths" are being collected from the implement-bearing gravel-pits of the River Drift deposits in various localities throughout the south of England. Also, a few old land-surfaces have been discovered, especially within the Thames valley, showing evidence of having been used as workshops for the manufacture of flint implements.

The discoveries of Mr. Worthington G. Smith at Caddington, near Luton, have disclosed two Palæolithic land-surfaces, one above the other, with implements indicating different stages of culture, from the coup-de-poing type down to late Moustérien instruments and tools.

Similar evidence is supplied by another "floor," explored by Mr. F. C. J. Spurrell at Crayford, which had the exceptional feature of preserving the actual flakes that were struck off in trimming flint nodules into shape. In one instance the implement was accidentally broken before it was finished, and Mr. Spurrell recovered the two broken portions, as well as the discarded flakes, and with remarkable ingenuity he has replaced the whole into their original position. These interesting relics are exhibited in the Natural History Museum at Kensington. The "workshop" was formed in deposits of brick-earth and sand, at a height of seventy feet above sea-level, and thirty-six feet from the present surface of the river.