Notice of Excavations in the Borness Cave in the Summer of 1874. Supplementary to Previous Notice. With Plans and Photographs

Abstract

On August 3, 1874, excavations were again commenced at the Borness Cave. 1 Thus far the main body of the cave had been, excavated to the depth of 3 feet, with the exception of the narrower portion at the end, which has been spoken of as the passage. Besides this a few hard portions of breccia remained to be cleared out round the edges.The vertical face of the earth which was presented to view at the entrance of the passage was about 3 feet 9 inches in height, for just at the back of the cave the earth sloped upwards slightly before it was disturbed. In order, therefore, to make the upper or A layer of the passage accord the A layer of the main chamber, it was decided to take off 1 foot 9 inches in that layer, leaving the remaining 2 feet for B and C.As the passage was so narrow and irregular, it was decided to take out the whole width in each layer at once, and not to subdivide the several parallels, as had been done where the width was considerably greater.To work in the passage, however, was no easy matter, for the roof was so low that it was impossible to stand upright, or to wield any ordinary tool; and bo crown other difficulties, a very considerable amount of breccia was encountered. However, after renewed attacks for some days,