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A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE valley of the Rea at Saltley runs about north-north-east and is nearly a mile wide. Stretches of gravel occur on both sides of the valley at various levels, especially on the south-eastern side. The highest and oldest gravels are exposed in a claypit close to Saltley College and are about 3 feet thick ; the gravel here consists of small quartzite pebbles, some larger pebbles and a few broken flints in a light-brown sandy matrix ; this overlies 3 or 4 feet of glacial clay and sand, and this in turn rests on the Keuper Marls which are dug for brick making. It was at the base of the gravel that the quartzite implements were found. The more recent alluvial deposits along the bottom of the present valleys, made up of flood material and the occasional peat growths, yield remains of man and animals of a later date than those of the old terraces, and conduct us to a point in the history of Warwickshire where the archaeologist takes up the story. 28