Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 31.djvu/329

Rh Before we commenced work, the height from roof to floor varied from 1 foot to 4$1⁄2$ feet; when dug out the height from rock to rock varied from 2 feet to 6$1⁄2$ feet; and the depth of the deposit varied from 1 foot to 4$1⁄2$ feet. The cave extended right and left from the entrance, its breadth (as contrasted with its length, 11 feet) was about 14 feet.

On the south side, inside, where the deposit was not more than 2 feet thick, and outside, where it was about 4 feet thick, it consisted first of a layer of debris, consisting of blackish earth (AB) interspersed with angular fragments of limestone. The colour varied more or less; but no definite line of parting could be drawn.

Below this was a well-defined layer of yellow earth, with limestone fragments (fig. 1, E), much resembling the ordinary subsoil of this district, known locally as "fox-earth."

On the northern side, however, a different state of things appeared. First there was a superficial layer of black earth free from stone (A), and (secondly) below it a layer of yellowish earth including limestone fragments (B). These were not of the same thickness throughout; at the entrance they were together about 2 feet thick. Below them there was (thirdly) a layer of stalagmite (C), varying in thickness from 4 inches to 1 foot, and extending beneath overhanging rocks some little distance outside. This was an exceedingly well-defined bed; it had evidently in one stage of the cave's history grown over one half of its floor, whilst stalactites were being formed from above; for some had fallen and become welded into the stalagmite below. The stalagmite was exceedingly clear and white; it contained few bones, but included some fragments of limestone and numerous shells of Helix. Below the stalagmite was another layer of black earth (D), including limestone fragments to a greater extent than the earth above the stalagmite, and also small lumps of carbonate of lime.

Beneath this and next to the rock was the same layer of yellow earth (E) which extended beneath that part of the cave-floor which was destitute of the stalagmite.

A section of the entrance is shown in the sketch, fig. 1 (which, however, is not drawn to scale).

All the strata were more or less disturbed by the burrowing of rabbits.

The earth above the stalagmite, and that extending down to the yellow layer where no stalagmite was present, contained a most miscellaneous assortment of articles, no doubt mixed up to a great extent by the rabbits. Pieces of old-fashioned pots of a late period lay not far from bits of rude prehistoric pottery.

Of animals, determined by Mr. Boyd Dawkins, there were many bones of the Celtic short-horn (Bos longifrons) and goat (Capra hircus) both of young and old subjects; and many of them were broken, evidently purposely to get out the marrow. There were also a number of jaws and teeth, and a few bones, of hogs of various ages.

Proof of the human occupation of the cave as a dwelling-house