| RefNo | MS/222/64 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Sixtieth 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 | 9 December 1870 |
| Description | Monthly report of the superintendents of excavation. They are still occupied with the exploration of Smerdon's Gallery and its ramifications. They have worked out that this branch of the cavern was an undervaulting beneath MacEnery's 'The Passage of Urns', which they had explored in 1866. This was confirmed on 8 November when one of the workmen pierced through the roof of Smerdon's Gallery, and found it was the floor of the Sloping Chamber, which is at a junction with The Passage of Urns. The deposit of this hole between spaces was declared unusual.
During November, they exhumed: 192 teeth of hyena, 160 of horse, 61 of rhinoceros, 20 of deer, 14 each of ox and badger, 12 of elephant, nine of megaceros, seven of fox, four of reindeer, three of bear, and one each of lion and wolf; alongside a considerable number of bones and fragments of bones. Eleven white flint flakes were also found.
On 28 November, an incident occurred where an old newspaper, used to wrap and package specimens, was found one morning having been nibbled on - it was assumed an animal had visited the caves in the night. They proceeded to install a rat trap, but only faeces were left, and no animal has been caught as of yet.
[Note: There is only one signature of Edward Vivian at the end of the report. However, the handwriting indicates the report was written by Pengelly]. |
| Extent | 3p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA2162 | Pengelly; William (1812 - 1894); geologist | 1812 - 1894 |