| RefNo | MS/222/50 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Forty-fifth report of progress of excavations by William Pengelly and Edward Vivian, Torquay, to the British Association Kent's Cavern Committee |
| Creator | Pengelly; William (1812-1894); geologist |
| Vivian; Edward (1808–1893); science writer; poet |
| Date | 8 May 1869 |
| Description | Monthly report of the superintendents of excavation. At the end of April, they completed the excavation of the Water Gallery, and are confident that there is 'a narrow branch opening out of its South-East corner'. The ceiling of the Water Gallery, which is the bottom of the lake basin, is deemed 'a curious and interesting spectacle': there are small angular fragments of the old-floor stalagmite clinging to it, pieces of 'Devonian grit, molars, canines', portions of skulls and ribs, vertebrae, and fragments of femurs among others, all of which are likely remains of bears. A description is provided for the varied compositions of deposit. Also, a hypothesis is provided for the penetration of water through the layers of deposit.
Amongst the bones found in April, there are some good bear molars and portions of jaws, and it is remarked upon that very few teeth found in the Water Gallery 'show any marks of wear'. A flint chip was also found. It is noted Mr [William Ayshford] Sanford is assisting Mr [William] Boyd Dawkins in the palaeontology of the cavern, and has sent a letter which details a new animal bone has been found, which he has named: '[Arricula Gulielmi]'. Sanford also has a suspicion that he has fragments of canines from a machairodus, but needs to compare them to another specimen. |
| Extent | 3p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA2162 | Pengelly; William (1812 - 1894); geologist | 1812 - 1894 |
| NA6232 | Dawkins; Sir; William Boyd (1837 - 1929) | 1837 - 1929 |