Page:VCH Bedfordshire 1.djvu/200

A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE surface deposit named contorted drift. They almost invariably lie too deep to be turned up by the plough, so are rarely found on the surface. This fact is of great importance, for there must needs be some doubt as to the age and origin of implements found on the surface. The contorted drift at Caddington has usually the deep red colour and tenacity belonging to red clay-with-flints. Red clay-with-flints occurs in situ in the neigh- bourhood close by, and it must have been extensively present, to- gether with chalk-with-flints before the contorted drift was deposited. In a disturbed or relaid state both red clay-with-flints and chalk-with- flints are apparently extensively but irregularly deposited over the hills of south Bedfordshire. The contorted drift in its passage over the old land surface of chalk, Tertiary deposit, chalk-with-flints and red clay-with-flints, brick-earth, and ancient gravels, necessarily incor- porated the materials of these deposits into its own substance, and as paleolithic implements, both older and newer, were resting on these deposits it follows that paleolithic implements of all ages are found in it. Such is the case, for a few implements with edges as sharp as knives have been found, together with others, which, from their general rudeness, peculiar colour and mineral condition are obviously very much older. The older palaeolithic implements range in style from very rude tools to occasional implements of the highest finish and regularity of form. There is no abrupt line of demarcation between rude and finished forms. The ruder predominate, but every intermediate form occurs. They vary in colour, according to the tint of the contorted drift in which they are found, from dark brown and liver colour to dark and pale red, and yellow. The progress is continuous throughout in workmanship, colour, mineral condition and abrasion. Notwithstanding these facts it is obvious that some of the older tools are very much older than others, but as no tools are glacially striated and no implements occur in the local and sometimes adjoining glacial deposits it seems desirable, with our present knowledge, to consider the oldest of the old tools as post-glacial in age. Every known form of paleolithic implement occurs amongst these older tools; pointed, ovate, chisel-edged, fabricator-like tools, missile-like nodules, scrapers, cores, flakes and all the erratic forms common to implement-bearing gravels. The majority of the older tools are a little abraded, in a few the abrasion is considerable. Amongst these remains are numerous pieces of tabular flint with edges sometimes artificially but more often naturally chipped or bruised. The chipped edges of these flints vary in colour in exactly the same manner as the chippings upon the finished implements. The chipping therefore may be classed as older or newer, whether artificial or natural, and it is evident that it belongs to the latest paleolithic period. In naturally broken flints it commonly happens that one part has a weak and thin edge. This thin edge is especially liable to become broken in a way that suggests a hollow scraper, but such natural stones must not be confounded with true hollow scrapers, which are amongst the latest, highly specialized stone tools. 156