Remains of Mammals from the Darent River Gravels at Sevenoaks Reserve, Kent

REMAINS OF MAM:MALS FROM 1HE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS AT SEVENOAKSRESERVE,KENT DAVID L. HARRISON, JULIET CLUTfON-BROCK and RlCHARD BURLEIGH INTRODUCTION Since 1975 fossil and recent remains of mammals found at Redlands Pit, near Sevenoaks, Kent, have been systematically preserved in the Harrison Zoological Museum and studied by the authors. The gravel workings and surrounding areas have been developed as a Nature Reserve in recent years by Dr. Jeffery Harrison and his enthusiastic helpers in co-operation with the Wildfowlers Association of Great Britain and Ireland and the Wildfowl Trust. The recent mammals of the area were surv􀁹yed by Harrison. 1 The area concerned (Plate IA) is situated in the Darent River Valley in the Vale of Hohnsdale, south of the scarp face of the North Downs and situated north of Bradbourne Vale Road, west of the Sevenoaks-Otford Road and south of the new M26 Motorway (Fig. 1, sketch map). Geological maps of the area2 show the presence of a limited river gravel deposit in this area, forming a terrace along the course of the Darent (Fig. 2) and lying on the gault. It is this drift deposit, composed largely of angular flints derived from the escarpments, which has been commercially extracted by Redlands Ltd. for a number of years. The fauna! remains studied have been derived from two separate areas desig- ' D.L. Harrison 'A Mammal Survey of the Sevenoaks Reserve and Darent Valley', in J.G. Harrison The Sevenoaks Gravel Pit Reserve, WAGBI Conservation Publication, 1974, 97-9. 2 H.G. Dines, S. Buchan, S.C.A. Homes and C.R. Bristow, 'Geology of the Country around Sevenoaks And Tonbridge', Mem. Geol. Survey Gt. Britain, HMSO, 1969, 1-183. 27 D.L. HARRISON, J. CLIJITON-BROCK and R. BURLEIGH PLATE IA (Photo. P.F. Harrison) A general View of the northern Boundary of Excavation Site I, looking towards the new M26 Motorway. PLATE lB ] (Photo. P.F. Harrison) Stratigraphy at the northern Boundary of Excavation Site I, in the same Area as Plate IA. 28 MAMMALS FROM 'IHE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS M 26 Fig. l. The Sevenoaks Reserve, showing the two Sites from which Fossil Bones have been extracted 1975-1980. N.B. Not strictly to scale. 29 D.L. HARRISON, J. CLU1TON-BROCK and R. BURLEIGH • • • • • • • • • • • • .SEVENOAKS • sf■􀀂 • • •m). •4SJ • \ .,,,􀀈•cl1Jll • • • ,􀀉 lJW. • • ■ Head Clay with Flints Chalk River Gravel I■ ■ • j Lower Greensand 􀁀 Gault m Weald Clay Scale = 1 mile Fig. 2. Site of the SevenoAakdsa pRteedse rfrvoem i nD Rineelsa tieot na lt. o2 local Geological Deposits. 30 MAMMALS FROM 1HE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS nated Sites I and II (see Fig. 1) from which the gravel has been extracted as a 'dry' working (i.e., not from the bottom of a deep lake as formerly done in the large West and East lakes shown in Fig. 1, from both of which gravel was extracted in the past). The stratigraphy of the area is shown in Plate IB, a section. at the northern side of the northern area of excavation, Site I in Fig. 1, near the new M26 Motorway. The depth of the layer of river gravels varies in different parts of the pit from about 1 m. to about 6 m., with a covering of surface soil about 0.6-1.2 m. in thickness and underlain by the Blue Cretaceous Gault, a grey, sticky, plasticene-like clay, containing marine invertebrate fossils, and which dries out to form a grey powdery material. The method of extraction employed is important, determining the way most of the animal bones are recovered. Extraction is by means of a crane-operated bucket dragged upwards from the pit bottom and depositing about a ton weight at a time into lorries, which transport the mixed extract to a washing plant, south of the East Lake. Here it is fed into a moving belt where washing and grading occur. At the washing plant an employee inspects the moving belt and removes any bones seen amongst the gravel. A total number of 429 identifiable animal remains, referable to 14 species, have been found by this means and by visual inspection of the pit itself during a period of five years up to the present time. It was clear from the early stages of this investigation that a bewildering mixture of old and more recent relics was emerging from the pit. Some fossils such as mammoth teeth (M. primigenius) and woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) are indisputably Pleistocene, pertaining to the last (fourth) Glaciation, currently known to British palaeontologists as the Devensian, and corresponding to the Alpine IV Wurm Glaciation. Indeed Coelodonta is known to have become extinct well before the end of the Devensian, and vanished from the scene at least 36,000 years b.p. Other species found, such as reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and aurochs (Bos primigenius) persisted from Pleistocene into Postglacial times. On the other hand considerable numbers of bones of domestic animals were also found, including cattle (Bos taurus), pig (Sus scrofa), sheep (Ovis aries), and horse (Equus caballus). The bones of these domestic animals were often recovered in the same 'batches' as the less numerous Pleistocene remains, giving rise to doubts regarding the chronological stratification of the gravels. It seemed very possible that as a result of river flood action there had been intrusion of older, fossil bones derived from other situations. The difficulty of resolving this problem, which cannot be considered altogether resolved even now, has been increased by the extreme 31 D.L. HARRISON, J. CLUTION-BROCK and R. BURLEIGH difficulty of manual excavation in this hard conglomerate gravel, composed of tightly packed flints of quite large average size. The fossil bones are clearly quite widely scattered throughout, although probably deposited in 'pockets' by river action. Several pieces of evidence tend to suggest that the animal remains may in fact be stratified chronologically in spite of the confusion brought about by the mechanical methods of extraction described above. The first fossil, found by Dr. Jeffery Harrison in 1975 was an exceptionally fine intact adult Mammuthus primigenius molar (Plate IIA). It was found in the bottom of the pit, exposed after removal of the gravel layer. On the other hand a jaw bone of Bos taurus was found by D.L.H. embedded in the top of the gravel layer, after removal of the surface soil and before extraction of the gravel. Recourse has been taken to modem scientific dating methods in a further effort to resolve this confusing situation. It was clear that the abundant remains of horse (E. ferus cabal/us) found included some highly mineralised fossil bones and others much lighter and more recent. Radiocarbon dating methods were employed to examine a horse metapodial found at the lowest level of the pit 2.4-3 m. deep. It gave a date of 7810 b.c. (9,760 b.p.) that is in the Post-glacial Mesolithic. Another lighter horse metapodial gave a radiocarbon date of 970 A.D. This investigation proves that the horse remains include the wild 'fossil horse' EqZ:tus ferus and its later domesticated descendant E. caballus (See discussion, p. 00). Pollen analysis of peaty material found in the internal cavities of some of the bones and presumed to be derived from decaying vegetation present at the site and period of the animals' death, has also assisted in dating the fossil material. Thus two aurochs (Bos primigenius) tibiae have given pollen datings corresponding to the Post-glacial period 9000- 8000 years b.p. and 6500-5000 years b.p. respectively (vide Peglar, Appendix I) conforming both with the state of mineralization of the bones and the known history of the species (see Plate IIIA). Bronze Age axe-heads and remains of large and small domestic cattle, possibly associated with the Neolithic and Iron Age periods, have also been found. These finds contribute to the conclusion that the deposit provides evidence covering a long period of the wild and domestic mammal fauna of Sevenoaks. The history of the gravels extends from the mid-Devensian at least 36,000 years b.p. down to recent historical times, when the Darent Valley was clearly grazed by man's domestic herds just as it is today. Whether or not the uncertainty of stratification can be finally resolved, this study tells us much about the past history of the site, thus adding a new dimension of interest to the Sevenoaks Reserve, already declared as an S.S.S.I. on account of its outstanding interest 32 MAMMALS FROM THE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS to students of the present day fauna. The animal remains obtained are preserved in the Harrison Zoological Museum at Sevenoaks, forming a fascinating exhibit of the past history of the area. List of measurements employed in the text ( abbreviations and definitions) AB ARM BB CMB DHR DHRP GAPDR GDLT GH GHT GL GLC GLLC GWC GLm3 HLC MB MSD MSW TFW WDE WI WPE Antero-posterior diameter of antler burr Median antero-posterior width of ascending ramus of mandible Breadth of cranium Circumference of main beam of antler above brow tine Depth of horizontal ramus of mandible behind last molar Depth of horizontal ramus of mandible in front of pm1 Greatest antero-posterior diameter of proximal extremity of radius Greatest diagonal length of tooth Greatest height Greatest height of tooth Greatest length Greatest length of crown Greatest length of lower carnassial Greatest width of crown Greatest length of third lower molar Height of lower canine, from cingulum to tip Antero-posterior diameter of main beam of antler above brow tine Mid-shaft depth Mid-shaft width Transfrontal width anterior to supraorbital foramen Width of distal extremity Width of interparietal across anterior extension Width of proximal extremity Systemic List Fam. Hominidae Homo sapiens Man Material: HZM 1.10564 Femoral shaft. This was the femoral shaft of a female or immature H. sapiens. Remarks: The age of this specimen is of considerable interest, but as discussed in a later section, it could not be sacrificed for radiocarbon dating, and relative dating (by estimation of nitrogen, fluorine and uranium) was inconclusive, although tending to show that the bone was not recent. Other evidence from the site (antler mace head, Plate IIIB and bronze axes) testifies to man's presence in the Darent Valley, probably continuously, since at least Neolithic times. Measurements (mm.): Femoral shaft (HZM 1.10564) MSW 24.9 MSD 23.8. 33 D.L. HARRISON, J. CLUTrON-BROCK and R. BURLEIGH Fam. Canidae Canis familiaris Domestic Dog Material: HZM 11.8538 pm4 , m' and m2 HZM 12.9234 Scapula HZM 13.9463 Tibia HZM 14.9688 Humerus HZM 15.9764 Intact skull and mandible HZM 16.9765 Femur HZM 17.10096 Mandible HZM 18.10097 Tibia HZM 20.10293 Mandible HZM 21.10294 Femur Remarks: The Canid material from our deposit is all referable to the domestic dog, C. familiaris. The well-preserved skull and mandible 15.9764 is of special interest being mineralised and clearly of considerable age. Like the domestic cat, these remains most likely date from early historical times, although the earliest domestic dog yet found in British deposits, from Star Carr was dated at 7500 B.C.3 Both small and large domestic dogs are represented in this sample. Fam. Felidae Pelis catus Domestic cat Material: HZM 5.9461 Mandible Remarks: This single specimen of domestic cat, distinguishable from wild cat by the small size of the jaw and dentition, clearly represents one of the more recent faunal components of the deposit, deriving from the historical period. Measurements (mm.): Mandible (HZM 5.9461) GL 59.0 GLLC 8.1 HLC 8.8 Fam. Elephantidae Mammuthus primigenius Material: HZM 1.8360 HZM 2.9228 HZM 3.9313 HZM 4.9342 HZM 5.9343 HZM 6.9344 HZM 7.9345 HZM 8.9346 Woolly mammoth Intact adult cheektooth (Plate IIA) Unerupted deciduous cheek tooth Part adult cheektooth Part adult cheektooth Part adult cheektooth Part adult cheektooth Part adult cheektooth Part adult cheektooth l M. Degerbol, 'On a Find of a Preboreal domestic Dog (Canis familiaris L.) from Star Carr, Yorkshire, with Remarks on other Mesolithic dogs', PPS, xxvii (1961), 35-55. 34 MAMMALS FROM THE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS Remarks: It is interesting that no skeletal remains of mammoth have been recovered at this site, molar teeth alone providing evidence of the presence of this typical Devensian (last glaciation) mammal. The intact adult molar has roots present and the tooth was clearly unrolled. Measurements (mm.): Ad. cheektooth (HZM 1.8360) GLC 198 GWC 108 GDLT 312 GHT 232 Fam. Rhinocerotidae Coelodonta antiquitatis Woolly rhinoceros Material: HZM 1. 9602 Tibial shaft HZM 2.10528 Femoral shaft (Plate'IlB) Remarks: These finds are the only specimens from the site referable to the species and are outstandingly different from all other tibiae and femora found in the deposit on account of their short broad 'graviportal' aspect (see Plate IIB). Material from the medullary cavity of HZM 1.9602 was examined for pollen content, but proved to have no associated pollen. It is, however, certain that these bones cannot be later than mid-Devensian c. 36,000 yr. b.p.4 The broad flattened femur with greatly developed third trochanter is especially characteristic of rhinoceros. Measurements (mm.): Tibia (HZM 1.9602) MSW 63.8 MSD 57.1 Femur (HZM 2.10528) MSW 86.9* MSD 60 .1 *Below third trochanter Fam. Equidae Equus ferus Wild horse Equus cabal/us Domestic horse Material: The material from the site comprises twenty-seven cranial and eighty-nine postcranial specimens. Measurements: These are available in the archives of the Harrison Zoological Museum. Remarks: Remains of horse are one of the most abundant species in the gravels. Many of the specimens are highly mineralised and clearly of great age. Others are lighter and appear more recent. Radiocarbon dating of two metapodials selected on this basis has given confirmation of this impression. HZM 15.9217 (a light bone) gave a carbon date of c. 970 A.D. (Saxon), while HZM 8.8535 (a heavy bone) proved to be c. 7,810 b.c. (c. 9760 b.p.) (Plate IVB). The latter Post-glacial Mesolithic date is of particular interest as it is the most recent date so far obtained for the wild horse, Equus ferus, in Britain. (See discussion). There appears to be no certain way of • A.J. Stuart, 'Pleistocene History of the British Vertebrate Fauna'., Biol. Rev., xlix (1974), 225-66. 35 D.L. HARRISON, J. CLU'ITON-BROCK and R. BURLEIGH distinguishing the remains of E. ferus from its domestic descendants (E. caballus) in our deposit, apart from the generally heavier more mineralised state of the bones. They are accordingly treated here together. Fam. Suidae Sus scrofa Pig/Wild boar Material: The material from the site comprises five cranial and seven postcranial specimens. Remarks: The distinction of wild from domestic pig is not always easy. Clason (1967)5 has shown that the size of the posterior cheekteeth, both upper and lower, will distinguish wild boar from domestic hog by average size difference in any particular region. There is good reason to believe that our limited material contains both. Thus the mandible of a young pig, with m3 not fully_ erupted (HZM 7. 9887) has small canine tusks and small cheekteeth and must surely have been domestic. On the other hand HZM 12.10009 (anterior mandibles) and 14.10498 (horizontal ramus with GLm3 34.6 mm.) both have much larger cheekteeth and are much more mineralised and could have been the wild boar. A massive posterior mandible HZM 13.10495 equals in size and considerably exceeds in thickness the mandible of an adult male recent Wild Boar from Holland (HZM 2.6143; 1.5660 Onzalige Boosen, nr. Arnhem). This and the large axis vertebra (HZM 10.9933) appear to us convincing evidence of Wild Boar in the deposit. The age of these specimens is uncertain, as the species may well have existed in the area throughout the history of the deposit. Fam. Cervidae Rangifer tarandus Reindeer Material: HZM 3.8536 Part antler HZM 4.8537 Part antler HZM 11.10448 Part antler (Plate VA) HZM 12.10462 Part antler (Burr and brow tine) Measurements (mm.): Antlers HZM 11.10448 AB 43.3 MB 43.3 CMB 119HZM 3.8536 AB 44.1 MB 44.3 CMB 124 Remarks: These highly characteristic antler specimens, two of which include the burr, part of the flattened main beam and massive brown tine, are the only evidence recovered of Rangifer in this deposit. They are readily distinguishable from the more abundant antler fragments of Cervus and Dama present in the gravels. These 5 A.T, Clason, 'Animal and Man in Holland's Past', Palaeohistoria, (1967), 13A, 61-3. 36 MAMMALS FROM THE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS antlers were clearly derived from large reindeer. They are one of the older faunal elements in the deposit. (See discussion). Capreolus capreolus Roe deer Material: HZM 10.10258 Part metapodial HZM 11.10494 Part antler and frontal (Plate VC) Remarks: The presence of roe deer in this deposit is attested by only one part of antler and one broken metapodial, which are, however, quite characteristic. Both were recovered in AugustDecember 1979 from the deep hole to the north of the East Lake (Site 2). This species is thus the least abundant Cervid in the gravels. Although roe deer existed in Britain in the Pleistocene, these early representatives were larger than the modem species (Kurten, 1968)6 and it seems more likely that these specimens belong to the more recent fauna of the gravels. Measurements (mm.): Metapodial HZM 10.10258 MSW 13.1 MSD 17.9 Antler HZM 11.10494 AB 34.0 Dama dama Fallow deer Material: This comprises one radius, one mandible, four cranial fragments with basal antlers attached, one cranial fragment and ten part antlers. Remarks: The seventeen identifiable specimens of fallow deer from the gravels form a characteristic assemblage readily identifiable by their size from the larger remains of Cervus and Rangifer in the deposit. Several of the antlers show evidence of the characteristic palmation. Some selected measurements of the adult specimens are given below (Table I) in comparison with modem park fallow deer from Knole Park, Sevenoaks. Allowing for the considerable individual, sexual and age variations present in deer, it is clear that the material from the Darent river gravels corresponds quite closely with the recent park fallow deer in size, and represents a reintroduced population in historical times. The indigenous fallow deer, which became extinct in the upper Pleistocene, was evidently larger than the modem form. 6 The Post-glacial history of the species in Britain is, however, obscure and precise dating of the material from the Darent gravels is therefore of special interest. (See p. 00). Cervus elaphus Red deer Material: The material comprises eleven cranial, twenty-four antler and twenty-five postcranial specimens. • B. Kurttn, Pleistocene Mammals of Europe, World Naturalist, London, 1968, 1-317. 37 TABLE I Dama dama (Measurements: mm.) Darent River Gravels OHR BB ARM WI AB 1FW MSW MSD WOE 0 r :r: Cranium HZM 4.9768 79.4 39.8 Mandible HZM 8.9798 32.6 27.3 􀀃 Cranium + 0 Antler HZM 3.9767 44.1 46.8 '!. Cranium + Cl'vlB 􀀄 Antler HZM 2.9766 84 47.8 p Antler HZM 17.10015 48.7 (.;.) Antler HZM 16.10014 46.9 § 00 Antler 0 HZM 19.10094 47.7 􀀅 Antler HZM 20.10095 41.0 t:D ,:, Antler HZM 7.9771 50.7 0 Antler HZM 5.8769 () 41.8 􀀆 Radius HZM 15.9921 23.2 13.3 39.4 p. 􀀇 Knole Park, Sevenoaks, (Recent) WI t:D Cranium HZM 9.9915 37.4 78.1 31.9 36.1 52.8 48.9 C 􀀈 Radius HZM 21.10135 22.3 13.0 41.8 = MAMMALS FROM THE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS Measurements: These are available in the archives of the Harrison Zoological Museum. Remarks: The red deer is the most abundant Cervid in the deposit. It is probably one of the species present throughout the entire history of the gravels, from the Devensian to recent historical times. Although it is yet unconfirmed by precise dating methods, the massive size of some specimens (e.g. antler HZM 38.10311, Plate VB) provides evidence of the presence of the large 'Cold Phase' red deer present in southern Britain in Devensian and Post-glacial times. This species no longer exists in the Sevenoaks area. Fam. Bovidae Bos primigenius Aurochs Material: HZM 2.8701 HZM 4.9230 Tibial shaft Tibial shaft and associated fragment (Plate IIIA) HZM 3.9229 Distal tibia HZM 12. 9603 Distal tibia HZM 6.9579 Distal tibia HZM 14.9681 Distal humerus HZM 9. 9582 Proximal radius HZM 11.9584 Proximal horn core fragment HZM 7.9580 Proximal horn core fragment HZM 8.9581 Hom core fragment HZM 15.10091 Metacarpal (intact) (Plate IVA ) HZM 13.9680 Proximal metapodial HZM 10.9583 Proximal metapodial HZM 1.8541 Proximal metapodial HZM 17.10257 Horizontal ramus mandible HZM 18.10492 Neural spine of vertebra HZM 19 .10493 Rib HZM 20.10496 Part proximal radius Remarks: Remains of the aurochs are readily distinguishable by their massive size and more mineralised condition from the much more recent domestic cattle (Bos taurus) in the deposit. Distinction from the Pleistocene steppe wisent (Bison priscus) is more difficult and the presence of this Devensian species in the deposit cannot be excluded. However, successful pollen analysis of material from the medullary cavities of two tibiae (see Appendix I) has given the following results: HZM 4.9230 Pollen Zone VII or 7000-5000 years b.p.; HZM 3.9229 Pollen Zone VI 9-8000 years b.p. These Postglacial datings confirm the identification of these specimens as B. primigenius and the material at present available is all considered provisionally as aurochs pending confirmation of the presence of 39 􀀁 0 TABLE II Bos primigenius (Measurements: mm.) MSW MSD WDE GL WPE DHRP GAPDR Tibia! Shaft HZM 2.8701 62.9 54.8 Tibial Shaft HZM 4.9230 57.5 43.7 77.8 Distal Tibia HZM 3.9229 78.4 Distal Tibia HZM 12.9603 76.2 Distal Tibia (eroded) HZM 6.9579 76.0 Distal Humerus HZM 14.9681 97.3 Metapodial (anterior) HZM 15.10091 43.8 32.2 77.l 257 76.6 Metapodial (anterior) HZM 13.9680 46.6 34.8 78.8 Metapodial (posterior) HZM 10.9583 60.4 Horizontal Ramus Mandible* HZM 17.10257 48.1 Proximal Radius HZM 20.10496 58.4 * Root sockets of mandibular teeth suggest this was a young aurochs. Nevertheless this mandible is outstandingly larger than the many Bos tauru.s mandibles recovered from this deposit. MAMMALS FROM THE DARENT RIVER GRAVELS steppe wisent. Some measurements of this material are given in Table II. Bos taum.s Domestic ox Material: This comprises twenty-four cranial and one hundred and twenty-two postcranial specimens. Remarks: Remains of domestic cattle form one of the most abundant components of this collection. They are generally easy to distinguish from Bos primigenius by their much smaller size. Measurements of some metacarpal specimens are given below (Table III) for comparison with the remains of aurochs recovered. HZM 70.9946 (Frontal bone and bone core) is of particular interest on account of its remarkably small size. This specimen came from a domestic cow so small it can scarcely have been larger than a modern sheep. This minute type of domestic ox was characteristic of the Iron Age. The horn core measures a mere 52.7 mm. long by 28.5 mm. basal width. The series of intact metacarpals are also of some interest. The largest of the series referred to Bos tauru.s is HZM 92.10032 which surprisingly came from a young animal since the distal epiphysis is not fused. It is nevertheless considerably smaller than Bos primigenius and could represent the large early domestic cattle of Neolithic and Roman times. Radii 132.10534 and 133.10535 are perfect pairs and the former articulates perfectly with humerus 114.10499 and is compatible with part metacarpal 126.10517 all found at the same time. Probably all part of a small Iron Age cow. TABLE III Bos taurus (Measurements: mm.) MSW MSD WDE GL WPE Metacarpals HZM 115.10500 30.2 21.8 54.5 202.0 52.2 HZM 92.10032 31.7 23.8 64.2 225.0 61.0 HZM 96.10092 34.4 23.7 58.9 202.8 58.1 HZM 100.10238 27.9 22.3 52.6 201.3 50.5 HZM 8.9219 33.6 24.9 61.3 195.2 59.7 HZM 111.10489 48.7 41 D.L. HARRISON, J. CLUTION-BROCK and R. BURLEIGH Ovis aries Domestic sheep Material: This comprises one cranial and sixteen postcranial specimens. Measurements: These are available in the archives of the Harrison Zoological Museum. Remarks: Remains of domestic sheep are considerably less abundant than those of domestic cattle and horse in the deposit. They clearly represent one of the more recent faunal components of the gravels. DISCUSSION Chronology of the fauna/ remains from the Darent gravels By Richard Burleigh It is well known that in the laying down of fluviatile deposits fossil remains of widely different age can become incorporated and intermixed. Evidently, the animal remains found in the Darent river gravels are no exception to this as the list includes species belonging to the extinct Pleistocene fauna, such as mammoth, as well as the bones of recent domestic animals. Apart from remains such as these which fell into distinct categories, the dating of some others that were recovered, notably those of horse (Equus sp.), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and fallow deer (Dama dama), was less certain. To help resolve this four bones of horse and two fragmentary antlers, one of reindeer and one of fallow deer, were selected for radiocarbon dating. These specimens were chosen for their particular relevance to a joint programme of research, by the Department of Zoology of the British Museum (Natural History) and the Research Laboratory of the British Museum, into the latest dates of survival of larger terrestrial mammals in Britain following the end of the last (Devensian) glaciation. Collagen (the remnant of the original protein) was recovered from the samples of bone and antler by demineralization with dilute acid and converted quantitatively to benzene for measurement of C14 activity by the liquid scintillation counting method. The radiocarbon ages obtained from these measurements are given in Table IV. From these results it will be seen that although three of the equid bones and the antler of fallow deer are of roughly medieval to modern date, one equid metapodial (HZM 8.8535, BM-1619) and the antler of reindeer (HZM 12.10462, BM-1674) are approximately 10,000 radiocarbon years old. These two results are of the greatest interest, both from the point of view of the present investigation and that of post-Pleistocene mammalian survivals in Britain. There are few other late records for 42 PLATE !IA (Photo. D.L. Harrison) Mammuthus prim/genius Intact adult Molar (HZM 1.8360). Scale = 5 cm. PLATE IIB (Photo. D.L. Harrison) Coelodonta antiquitatis Femur Shaft (HZM 2.10528). Scale = cm. and mm. PLATE IIIA I (Photo. D.L. Harrison) Bos primigenius Tibia( Shaft and associated proximal Fragment (HZM 4.9"230). Pollen dating Zone Vila 7000-S