Prehistoric Remains
Dr. Smart has remarked[1] upon their discovery in the neighbourhood of Hastings, more especially at Ore. Mr. Thomas Ross and the present author have found them in a field immediately south of " Old Roar " and at the Borough Cemetery, Hastings, and the former also describes a flint arrowhead from the " East Hill " at Hastings[2]. From observations which the author has made, these objects appear to be less uncommon in the upland areas of the Weald than has been generally supposed. What, however, more nearly affects our subject is the fact of their occurrence in considerable quantities on the southern and weathered slope of the outer earthwork at Hastings Castle, commonly known as " The Lady's Parlour." They were first remarked by Mr. Garraway Rice, F.S.A., who devoted much attention to their collection, and it was through him that the author first heard of their occurrence. Since then, repeated discoveries have been made by various explorers. Numerous examples have been collected recently, and the subject has been worked out in considerable detail by Mr. W. J. Lewis Abbott F.G.S., who has published a notice on these prehistoric remains in the Journal of the Anthropological Institute, vol. xxv.
The bulk of the specimens have been found in the surface-soil which rests upon the sand-rock of the hill, and in the earthy matter that fills the rock-fissures which abound in the Hastings Sands.
The earth in the fissures contains, besides worked flints, numerous bones, shells, fragments of rude pottery, and ashes, forming a midden-like deposit. The author has examined a large number of specimens discovered by different explorers. The flints seem to have been worked on the spot, and since flint does not occur in situ within 18 miles of Hastings (Eastbourne and Polegate), the matrix was probably selected by the ancient workmen from the seashore. Most of the specimens are small, and, probably owing to the condition of the flint, they do not show such elaborate working as may be seen in specimens from the Chalk districts, where flints can be obtained fresh from their beds.Finished implements are extremely rare. Both flakes and implements are commonly not much bleached or patinated. The pottery is of a crude and coarse thumb-made variety. Some of it is black, and is mixed with pounded flint (the so-called " Celtic " pottery). Other pieces are brown or red, very coarse ; they show rarely any trace of ornamentation, and are associated with a large quantity of ash and other charred substances. The brown or red pottery is sometimes found blackened, as if it had been used over a fire.
No bronze or other metal objects have been discovered among the specimens in these rock-fissures. The above-mentioned deposits must be distinguished from other midden-like heaps of the mediaeval period which occur at the foot of the hill to the south, and contain bones and glazed pottery.
Without entering into various controversial matters which might arise from details in Mr. Abbott's paper, it may be said that special interest attaches to the determination of the bones found in association with these early specimens of human handicraft. Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., has identified traces of the following organisms among the specimens discovered by Mr. Abbott :-- Vertebrates : (fishes and reptiles), the gurnet, mackerel, turbot, plaice, whiting, cod,-- the toad or frog ; (birds), black grouse, red grouse, duck (of some kind) ; (mammals), rabbit
