41

Abinger Aug 21 - 77

[annotated sketchs]

9 inches (in parts 12 or 14) of dark mould with no stones (Dark mould with a good many large stones)

Top of wall p 3 for surface fine mould no stones.  Broken top of wall very uneven in parts higher. Level of floor and then particular spot relating to surface.

Black humous organic marble partly through from [illeg]

22 inches (soil partly worked land must have been at lower level. Open trench

Very black humous

Mortar

Earth

Very black humous 8 inches

Foundation 30 inches from top

Thickness of wall 23 inches

Wall

Foundation of wall

(See p. 2 for greater thickness on west side of old house.—)

Undisturbed solid yellowish argillaceous sand

Trench dug

Base of wall

(The wall [mortar] have projected here at first above ground about 9 inches, but in other parts about 16 inches:)

The tessalated floor stood some inches above level of ground.

We must remember that earth brought up by worms will be washed away by heavy rain, as well as rest of upper surface of ploughed field.

It is certain that tiles & some of wall must have been covered by 5 or 6 inches of earth before land ploughed & some will have been added afterward by worms & some by washing down; it is impossible to judge of proportion —

Before cultivation probably poor vegetation, & I presume a sort of equilibrium is struck before humus brought up & washed down — compact turf wd probably [illeg] & woods