Contents.
2. Exploration.
3. Association of Remains.
4. The Rock-basin a Swallow-hole.
5. A Pool formerly in the Rock-basin.
6. Geographical Change since Accumulation.
7. Remains of Animals.
1. Introduction.—In the spring of 1876, by the courtesy of the owner of the land, Mrs. Champion, we were able to carry on the exploration of the ossiferous deposit at Windy Knoll, near Castleton, begun in 1874 by Mr. Rooke Pennington, and described in the 'Quarterly Journal' (May 1875, p. 211), with the following results[1].
If reference be made to the above paper (p. 242) it will be seen that the fissure in which the remains were first met with was traced to a sort of basin filled with clay and packed full of bones of animals and large and small blocks of stone. "We resolved to have this thoroughly examined by a body of experienced miners, working under the constant supervision of Mr. John Tym, of Castleton, while we were, as far as possible, present during the six weeks spent in the work.
2. Exploration.—We began operations on the east side of the mound of clay, and rapidly exposed the following section (fig. 1) in descending order:—
| C. | Clayey débris forming the summit, without bones, and probably rubbish piled up when the quarry close by was worked at that level |
6 feet |
| B. | Yellow clay with large blocks of limestone, fragments of Yoredale shale washed down from the adjoining heights of Mam Tor, bits of elastic bitumen or elaterite, and of fluor spar derived from the deposits of those minerals close by, together with bones of bison, reindeer, wolf, fox, and grisly bear |
8„ |
| A. | Below this a stiff yellow loam without any fossil remains rested on the surface of the limestone |
4„ |
3. Association of Remains.—The bones and teeth of the animals from the ossiferous yellow clay are, for the most part, perfect, and had been buried in their natural positions. The limb-bones of bison, for example, and of reindeer had their proper articular surfaces together, and the sesamoids, tarsals, and carpals in place. The dorsal vertebræ of a reindeer were found in one continuous chain.
- ↑ This was done at the joint cost of Mr. Rooke Pennington and the Manchester Museum, the Owens College.
