EARLY MAN THE prehistoric remains found in Bedfordshire are numerous and of considerable importance, and it is interesting to note that through the action of Mr. (now Sir) John Evans some of the earliest English discoveries of palaeolithic implements were made in this county. Mr. Evans visited a gravel pit at Biddenham near Bed- ford in the expectation of finding palaeolithic implements, and although he did not at the time succeed in finding any, the search was vigorously and successfully taken up by the late Mr. Wyatt of Bedford, who as long ago as the early part of 1 86 1 discovered an important series, the chief specimens of which are now in the British Museum. In 1830 a palaeolithic implement (fig. 1) was picked up at Dallow farm near Luton by a farmer, who, although ignorant of its real nature, was struck by its odd shape and preserved it among some other curious stones. It came at length into the possession of the writer. It may be added that a large number of palaeolithic implements has been found in situ at Caddington in the same neighbourhood. As far as Bedfordshire is concerned there is reason to believe that man's first appearance was made in the early part of the quaternary period, or the pleistocene age, as it is termed by geologists. This was after the deposit of the boulder clays and gravels belonging to the glacial period or periods, and before the deposition of the contorted drift. Palaeolithic stone tools have been found near Bedford at Biddenham, at Kempston, Harrowden, Fenlake and Cardington ; at all these places the writer has discovered examples, especially at Kempston, in large numbers. The valley of the Ouzel at Bossington near Leighton Buzzard has also yielded specimens. Eight miles to the east of Bedford, at Tempsford, the Great Ouse is joined by the Ivel ; at this place, and at eight miles to the south at Langford and Henlow, implements have been discovered. Palaeolithic flakes and remains of the mammoth have been procured at Eaton Socon, three and a half miles to the north of Tempsford, and palaeolithic flakes at Flitwick two miles to the south of Ampthill. Near Henlow the Ivel is joined by the Hiz, and at Ickleford, four miles south of Henlow on the border of Hertfordshire, similar discoveries have been made. 1 145 l 9
