| RefNo | MS/222/56 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Fifty-first 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 | 11 January 1870 |
| Description | Monthly report of the superintendents of excavation. At the end of December, they were still working on the North Sally Port and had completed up to the 27th parallel inclusive. It is noted each section presented the following unusual succession of deposits: First (uppermost) - black mould, between two inches and two feet thick, and containing: bones and marine shells of varied species; Second - Stalagmitic floor, between two inches and two feet thick, and destitute of bones and objects of interest; and third - Cave-earth of the unusual character, containing: numerous blocks of old stalagmite, a great number of cave mammals remains, but no flint tools or indication of man. At the 19th parallel, a horizontal tunnel was broken into in the cave-earth by the east wall. At the 22nd parallel, another tunnel was discovered by the west wall. The tunnels ran parallel to the walls, were estimated to fit the size of a fox or badger, and 'they had very easily the appearance of burrows'.
During December, the following items were found: large quantities of bones and fragments of antler, 327 teeth of horse, 234 of hyena, 173 of rhinoceros, 46 of deer, 24 of lion (?), 15 of mammoth, 13 of ox, 11 of bear, four of fox, three of wolf, one of dog (?), four of beaver, and one of badger. |
| Extent | 2p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA2162 | Pengelly; William (1812 - 1894); geologist | 1812 - 1894 |