The Geological and Cultural Age of the Harrisonian Eoliths

Abstract

MOST archæologists are familiar with the pieces of tabular flint—exhibiting rough flaking along one or other of their edges—which the late Benjamin Harrison found, many years ago, in and upon the highest portions of the plateau of Kent. With regard to the geological age of these specimens, though there is very good reason to suppose that the eoliths of the Kent plateau—as is the case with others found in similar situations in different parts of the country—are of a great antiquity, it is nevertheless clear that, having not yet been discovered, at these places, under any geologically datable deposit, the exact measure of tiiat antiquity remains unknown. It is fortunate, therefore, that examples of eoliths of Harrisonian type occur in the detritus-bed beneath the Red Crag of Suffolk. These specimens exhibit, generally, much abrasion, thus differentiating them from the other, and later, sub-Crag implements with which they are associated, and indicating that they had had a long history before their arrival in the detritus-bed. It is possible, therefore, to decide that some of the implements of Harrisonian type are not younger than the Red Crag, but, at present, we do not know by how long they pre-date this deposit. It would, however, seem reasonable to suppose that these specimens must be referred to, at least, an early phase of the Pliocene period.