The Quiet Man of Kent: the Contribution of F.C.J
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B. Scott & A. Shaw: Flaxman C.J. Spurrell THE QUIET MAN OF KENT: THE CONTRIBUTION OF F.C.J. SPURRELL TO THE EARLY YEARS OF PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY Beccy Scott1 & Andrew Shaw2 1 Department of Prehistory and Europe, The British Museum, Franks House, 38–56 Orsman Road, London, N1 5QJ, UK. Contact email: [email protected] 2Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins, School of Humanities (Archaeology), Avenue Campus, University of Southampton, SO17 1BF, UK. Contact email: [email protected] ___________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT In the 1880s, Flaxman C.J. Spurrell discovered two of the most important British early Middle Palaeolithic sites: the ―chipping floor‖ at Crayford; and the Levallois sites of the Ebbsfleet Valley, later to be known as Baker’s Hole. However, little is now known of his wider work, and he has sadly slipped into obscurity. This paper reviews the work, contemporary impact and ongoing legacy of this quiet man. Full reference: Scott, B. & Shaw, A. 2009. The quiet man of Kent: the contribution of F.C.J. Spurrell to the early years of Palaeolithic archaeology. In R. Hosfield, F. Wenban-Smith & M. Pope (eds.) Great Prehistorians: 150 Years of Palaeolithic Research, 1859–2009 (Special Volume 30 of Lithics: The Journal of the Lithic Studies Society): 53–64. Lithic Studies Society, London. Keywords: Flaxman C.J. Spurrell, early Middle Palaeolithic, Crayford, Baker’s Hole, Ebbsfleet Valley INTRODUCTION of taphonomy, of context, of methods of artefact manufacture — and sought, through Flaxman C.J. Spurrell (1842–1915) remains, experiment and refitting, to understand the to some extent, a shadowy figure around the evolving mind of ―man‖. In this article we margins of early Palaeolithic endeavour, but outline Spurrell’s contribution to Palaeolithic the sites he discovered still dominate archaeology in the late 19th century, drawing research into the earlier Middle Palaeolithic upon his publications, extant of Britain. A diffident and somewhat correspondence, and society reports of field cautious researcher, his publications are trips and meetings. regrettably few and terse in tone, striving as he did always to present the ―bare facts‖ of his investigations. In fact, his reserve can be A FAMILY AFFAIR seen as reflecting surprisingly modern concerns with the integrity of the material Spurrell shared his interest in all things with which he dealt; whilst others sought to archaeological and geological with his establish sequences (O’Connor 2007: 100) father, Flaxman Spurrell, a medical doctor Spurrell urged caution when faced with the from the poorer side of an old Norfolk immense variety apparent at individual sites family. Dr. Spurrell’s own interest in (cf. Spurrell 1883: 93). Instead, he concerned geology, and natural history more generally, himself with the particular — with questions reputedly began by collecting fossils from 53 Great Prehistorians: 150 Years of Palaeolithic Research, 1859–2009 (Lithics 30) the cliffs at Cromer, near the family home at member of the West Kent Natural History, Bessingham (Caiger 1992). His eldest son Microscopical and Photographic Society was actually christened Charles John (hereafter WKPS) and served on the Flaxman Spurrell, in an effort to placate his committee until his death in 1892, acting as maternal grandfather, a wealthy London president between 1864–5. He was businessman who disapproved of his especially interested in fungi (―Cryptogamic daughter’s marriage to her less well-off botany‖; WKPS 1893), an interest he shared cousin (Caiger 1992). However, following with his son who stood in for him at West the old man’s death in 1866, Spurrell junior Kent Cryptogamic field meetings when he changed his name to Flaxman Charles was unwell (WKPS 1889: 5). An early and James, and together with his mother, ongoing archaeological interest of Spurrell inherited the wealth which would allow him junior was the investigation of ―deneholes‖ to devote himself to his geological and — deep shafts cut to extract chalk for field archaeological studies (Caiger 1992). liming (Le Gear 2008). He explored and recorded many such features, pioneered the Spurrell never seems to have worked, use of magnesium flash photography in their describing himself in various censuses as a depths (see NMR FX501), and even lowered ―medical student‖ (1871 — though he never members of the Geologists’ Association completed his studies), ―geologist‖ (1891) or down them (Holmes 1882: 400). An early simply listing ―no occupation‖ (1881). photograph shows father and son (age 24, However, at no point does he appear to have holding a ruler) reclining at the entrance to a been idle. Spurrell and his father were active denehole, together with Spurrell’s brothers participants in several newly-formed learned and other members of the WKPS (Figure 1). societies. Spurrell senior was a founder Figure 1: The only known photograph of Flaxman C.J. Spurrell, together with his father, at the ―four pillared pit, Stankey, Bexley‖ (1866, FCJS); from left to right: FJS [Spurrell senior], FS [Spurrell junior], AS [Alfred Spurrell], Capt. Popperwell [a demonstrator of chemistry at the Royal Naval College, fond of creating explosions at the WKPS], HS [Herbert Spurrell] and Sir J.M. Wilson. [ms NMR/FX/501, reproduced with the kind permission of English Heritage] 54 B. Scott & A. Shaw: Flaxman C.J. Spurrell Spurrell and his father certainly shared an described his friend as ―infuriating‖ and interest in Pleistocene fauna and collected ―provoking‖; Spurrell rarely seems to have numerous fossil bones from the Crayford and been capable of turning up anywhere on Erith Brickearths, close to the family home time, if at all, and appears to have been in Belvedere. Whilst A.S. Kennard (1944: 9) painfully shy. At Petrie’s wedding he acted suggests that most of the fauna from the as best man, though only once assured that: brickearths was collected by Spurrell’s father, the Geologists’ Association attributed ―there will be no social ceremonies and the material to C.J. Spurrell Esq. (Spurrell performances of any kind[…]You won’t be in junior) in 1872 when they visited the for any more than in witnessing a will or a collection at their Belvedere home (Morris lease[…]so don’t be scared.‖ 1872: 229). Spurrell seems to have been hit (Petrie to Spurrell 22.09.97, ms hard by his father’s death in 1892; the PMA/WFPI/16/2/1 [3]) Proceedings of the WKPS for that year records that he read a paper on ―True and Once Petrie devoted himself to fieldwork in alleged stone implements of the North Egypt, his friend proved an invaluable asset Downs‖ on the 22nd April 1892, but not even back in England; writing cheques on Petrie’s an abstract is provided, in contrast to papers behalf (Petrie to Spurrell 03.11.92, ms read by others in that year. PMA/WFPI/16/2/1 [3]), receiving and storing finds (e.g. Petrie to Spurrell 17.4.80, Whilst Spurrell’s father clearly had an ms NOR), as well as refitting and writing up important impact upon his developing any flint artefacts (Petrie to Spurrell interests, his closest friend was the renowned 12.09.93, ms PMA/WFPI/16/2/1 [3]; Egyptologist Flinders Petrie. The pair first Spurrell 1894). However, whilst Spurrell met in 1876 when Petrie, then only 22, may have learned much from Petrie in terms exhibited measured drawings of Stonehenge of method, Petrie seems not to have acquired at the Archaeological Institute (Caiger 1992). a reciprocal interest in the Palaeolithic; he Spurrell was deeply impressed by Petrie’s makes no response to Spurrell’s urging that methods, especially of recording, and sought he look out for Palaeoliths when he first to imitate his technique: went to Egypt, and when invited down to view Spurrell’s floor at Crayford, makes no ―Thank you very much for your card and mention at all of it in his next letter — promises of a plan — It is perfectly instead praising the ―Roman Camp‖ at astonishing — the way you measure — I Abbey Wood they had visited on the same have with great trouble planned the camp & day. In fact, there are hints that this a thing or two near — but slowly and ill — friendship with the supremely confident and & really you took my breath away.‖ ebullient Petrie had an adverse effect upon (Spurrell to Petrie 18.04.79, ms Spurrell, who frequently compared himself PMA/WFPI/16/5/1 [5]) unfavourably with his friend: Spurrell and Petrie surveyed many Kentish ―I can hardly express the obligations under enclosures and monuments together, Petrie which I lie to you in an antiquarian sense for teaching Spurrell ―three rod surveying‖ the kindness & attention that you have given (Petrie to Spurrell 04.03.80, ms to my wants. Your method has given me a PMA/WFPI/16/2/10). On one occasion great insight into some requirements for the Spurrell was sent back to an enclosure near useful & trustworthy study of very difficult Swanscombe to finish the work, pick up the remains, & I feel much disappointed with pegs, and search for a sieve mislaid by Petrie myself in consequence of much that I do not (Petrie to Spurrell 02.11.80, ms do — I shall avoid matters in future that are PMA/WFPI/16/2/10). Petrie frequently too much for me.‖ 55 Great Prehistorians: 150 Years of Palaeolithic Research, 1859–2009 (Lithics 30) (Spurrell to Petrie 27.04.80, ms which Spurrell was a member formed during PMA/WFPI/16/5/1 [5]) this period: the Kent Archaeological Society (1858); West Kent Natural History, This extract comes from a letter written to Microscopical and Photographic Society Petrie within two weeks of his discovery of (1859); and the rather less spectacularly the floor at Crayford, and suggests that named Essex Field Club (1880).