Twenty Trees Books

See Home Page for details ... or click on the images to go to Amazon

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses [Map]

Waterhouses, Staffordshire is in Staffordshire.

The River Hamps rises at Merryton Low, Staffordshire [Map] after which it passes Onecote, Staffordshire [Map], Winkhill, Staffordshire [Map], Waterhouses, Staffordshire [Map] before turning north to join the River Manifold at Beeston Tor, Staffordshire [Map].

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Calton Green Barrow [Map]

Calton Green Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Calton. On the 12th and 20th of January, we examined a barrow [Possibly Calton Green Barrow [Map]] close to the village of Calton, of a form rarely found in this neighbourhood, but occurring more frequently in Wiltshire, where it is denominated by Stukeley and Hoare, the "Druid Barrow" (Compare Elk Low [Map], Vestiges p. 45). It consists of a level plateau 18 inches high, encircled by a high verge 4 feet above the natural level, its diameter 16 yards. We found that repeated interments had been deposited within the area. The first discovered, was rather South of the centre, and was a skeleton with the legs bent at a right angle, with the trunk reposing on a quantity of charred wood placed on the natural level, from whence six pieces of calcined flint were taken, four only having the definite shape of instruments. From the head of this skeleton the ground inclining to the East, our trench was continued in that direction for about four feet, when we met with a large black stone placed on edge, near which were a few burnt human bones, and not far from them part of the unbumt skeleton of a very young person, with numerous rats' bones about it. At a short distance West from the centre, was another skeleton, also of a young person, placed in a flexed position, in a depression in the earth, accompanied by two neatly chipped instruments of calcined flint, and in some degree protected by a flat stone placed on edge parallel with the body. From following up these discoveries, the excavation had assumed an irregular shape, leaving the N.W. part of the area unexplored, which occasioned us to devote another day to the examination of that portion, where we discovered another skeleton of an adult, of slender proportions, lying extended on the back, with the head pillowed upon a flat stone, which afterwards proved the cover of a small cist. By the side of the body was a short thick-backed iron knife, which had been inserted into a wooden haft. The cist covered by the pillow stone, was sunk about a foot lower than the natural level; it was made by five flat stones placed on edge, some of them having pointed ends had been driven lower into the natural soil: it was small, measuring only 2 feet by 16 inches, and it was altogether about three feet beneath the turf. It contained a confused heap of badly preserved human bones, which, from the remains of the cranium (the best preserved amongst them) were pronounced to be the vestiges of a young person.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Calton Moor House [Map]

Stanton. September 6th, opened a barrow at Dale, in the same township as the preceding, about a mile from Calton Moor House [Map]. It is irregular in form, being 13 yards diameter from North to South, and 16 from East to West; the height about three feet, and the components flat stones and earth. On the natural surface lay two skeletons in a line, one at the feet of the other, which presented a mode of sepulture different to any yet found in our researches, from having been intentionally subjected to the action of fire upon the spot, in such a manner as to preserve the bones in their natural order, entire and unwarped by the heat. They were surrounded by charcoal and earth, to which a red colour had been imparted by the operation, themselves exhibiting a curious variety of tints from the same cause. All deposits of burnt bones previously found by us have been strictly calcined, and reduced to fragments by the process, and have generally been gathered into a heap, or placed within an urn, so that here we find an exception to the rule perfectly inexplicable - we may observe that the bones are evidently those of different sexes. Portions of human skull and some teeth found near the burnt skeletons, indicate that a former interment was displaced to make way for the new comers. No implements were found with them, but chips of flint, and one piece of primitive earthenware occurred near the top of the barrow.

Calton Moor. On July the 5th we made an ineffectual attempt to open a barrow at Waterings, near Calton Moor House [Map], 25 yards diameter and four feet high, composed of very compact earth, which was rendered more difficult of removal by being traversed in all directions by the roots of about a dozen large sycamores growing on the mound. We found only some pieces of flint, traces of fire, and an iron ox-shoe, which, though comparatively modern, was found eighteen inches from the surface. We perceived, in one part of the rock, a depression at least two feet lower than the natural surface, which would probably have led to the interment had it been possible to follow it up, but the trees prevented this being done. On the same day, we made two small cuttings in the first of the Musdin barrows, previously opened by us on the 5 th of July, 1848. Near the edge we found a small cist, formed of four flat stones, reinforced by an outer range of others, all set on edge, and covered over by two larger slabs: around were rats' bones innumerable, and within was a deposit of calcined bones, accompanied by two flint instruments, also burnt, one of which is a very neatly chipped lance, made of rather unusual shape, three inches long, made from a large flake, smooth on one surface from being struck from a block, and laboriously chipped to a convex shape on the other. This is a type always found well finished, as in the specimen found in Ribden Low [Map], which is one of the most beautiful flints we have seen. The usual fragments of bone, &c., were found in the other cutting but no interment.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Calton Moor House Barrow [Map]

Calton Moor House Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Calton Moor. On the 26th of April, we opened a barrow near Calton Moor House [Calton Moor House Barrow [Map]], thirty yards diameter, consisting of earth only, which, though much lowered by ploughing, and further mutilated by a driving-road for cattle having been cut through it, was fortunately not sufficiently injured to affect the original interment, which consisted of a simple deposit of calcined bones, placed exactly in the centre of the barrow, without either cist or accompaniment save charcoal, which spread out from the bones over the natural surface for some distance. We dug in other parts of the mound without meeting with further interments, but we found a few flints, including a barbed arrow-head, and a flake from an instrument which has had a polished surface.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Cart Low [Map]

Cart Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Throwley. On the 10th of February, we investigated a tumulus [Possibly Cart Low [Map]] midway between Throwley and Calton, 17 yards across and 3 feet high, wholly composed of earth of a burnt appearance throughout The principal interment was found about a yard from the centre, and consisted of a deposit of large pieces of calcined human bone, which lay within a circular hole in the natural soil, about a foot deep, of well defined shape, resulting from contact with a wooden or wicker work vessel, in which the bones were placed when buried, the vestiges of which, in the form of impalpable black powder, intervened between the bones and the earth. Upon the bones lay part of a small bronze pin, and a very beautiful miniature vase, of the "Incense Cup" type, 8⅛ inches high, 3½ diameter, ornamented with chevrons and lozenges, and perforated in two places at one side. Among the bones were two small pointed pieces of flint, and a common quartz pebble; and below the deposit was the shoulder-blade of a large animal, which has been designedly reduced to an irregular shape by the use of flint saws, or otlier instruments equally inefficient. At one side of this interment, were four other deposits of calcined bone, placed on the floor of the mound, here of rock, intersected by veins of clay, without any protection from cist or urn, but evidently deposited at one and the same time, as the heaps were quite distinct and imdisturbed, though very near to each other. They had been so thoroughly calcined as to be comminuted, and had almost reached the inevitable catastrophe of "dust to dust,"

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Cauldon Low Barrow [Map]

Cauldon Low Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Cauldon. On the 14th of April, we examined the remnant of a barrow on the summit of a very high hill, called Cauldon Low [Map]. It is about 22 yards across, and is planted with stunted fir trees, for the protection of which a wall has been built round the tumulus, the stone having been supplied by its spoliation. Owing to this, we were unable to find more than a few calcined bones, pieces of pottery, rats' bones, and two instruments of flint, all which occurred near the centre.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Deepdale Barrow 2 [Map]

Deepdale Barrow 2 is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Deepdale Barrow 2 [Map]. Unamed burial mound at Deepdale.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Grub Low [Map]

Grub Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Grub Low. 13th of June we opened a small barrow, three feet high, and not more than ten yards across, called Grub Low [Map], situated between Grindon and Waterfall. It was mostly composed of the red earth of the neighbourhood, sparingly mixed with stones. In the middle were remains of two persons: one had been interred in the natural state, with the knees drawn up; the other had been reduced to ashes, which were distributed about the first, along with much charcoal; beneath the bones were two very neatly chipped leaf-shaped arrows of white flint, one of which had suffered much from the fire. The natural surface was much blackened with charcoal, and above the deposits fine gravel had been heaped almost to the summit of the barrow.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Lamber Low Barrow [Map]

Lamber Low Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Lomberlow. The remainder of the day was occupied by another barrow on a rocky and elevated xidge in the neighbourhood, called Lomberlow [Map]. The mound, about 16 yards diameter, is crossed by a hedge and double stone wall, so tbat we could not dig out the middle, but we worked as near to it as practicable. It is composed of stones broken from the upper beds of the rocky masses around, mingled with soil just sufficient to fill the interstices, and stands upon a very uneven floor of rock, in a depression of which, enlarged by artificial means, a cist was erected of well-defined, rectangular form, composed of four massive stones, measuring inside three feet by two feet, and covered by three large stones laid across, two being of limestone, each a yard long by eighteen inches wide and six thick; the other, covering the joint, was a slab of sandstone, brought from the bed of the River Hamps, which flows through, and gives the name to the village of Waterhouses, about a mile from the barrow. The cist was south of the centre, and its covering stones not more than eighteen inches below the turf, though its floor was four feet; it was built with the longest diameter East and West, and was filled with earth, amongst which lay the skeleton of a full-grown young person, with the head to the West, and necessarily in an extremely contracted posture. At the shoulders we found a very good spear-head of mottled grey flint, and an uncertain instrument of white flint, very highly polished. Above the cist were numerous small pebbles, the leg-bone of a large dog, and a little charcoal.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Martin's Low [Map]

Martin's Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Winkhill. July 1st, examined the site of a barrow, near Winkhill, called Martin's Low [Map], which had been some time removed; where we found only a spear point of grey flint. We observed, as a rather remarkable circumstance, that, after making a hole to the depth of a foot, the earth appeared perfectly dry, notwithstanding the abundance of rain that had fallen; whilst, on sinking a little lower, the excavation suddenly filled with water, although the barrow is placed on the highest point of the land.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Mouse Low [Map]

Mouse Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Mouse Low. June 21st, opened a barrow between Deepdale and the village of Grindon, called Mouse Low [Map], fourteen yards diameter and not more than two feet high; the lower part composed of stiff clayey soil, plentifully interspersed with small pebbles; in the centre was a cist constructed of three large flat stones, the fourth side being left open; it was paved with very thin slabs of blue limestone, and contained the skeleton of a very large and strongly built man resting on his left side in the usual contracted posture, near whose head was a peculiarly elegant and well finished drinking cup, 8¼ inches high, inside of which were two implements cut from the ribs of a large animal (compare with those found with a similar interment at Green Low [Possibly Green Low Barrow [Map] but may be a different Green Low], in April, 1845, Vestiges page 60), a spear head, and two beautiful barbed arrows of white flint; outside the cup were two more arrows of the same kind. The skull is very large, and is remarkable from the presence of a frontal suture, although by no means that of a young man; the teeth are in fine preservation; and the skull is of the platy-cephalic variety, occasionally found amongst Celtic crania. In other parts of the mound numerous pieces of human bone, stag's horn, and a neat circular ended flint, were found. And as far as our trench extended, which would be about five yards, it exposed a row of large boulders of hard red grit, laid on the surface of the natural soil in a direction coincident with the longest side of the cist; the smaller limestones near these were almost turned to lime from the effect of heat, and were mixed with burnt bones and charcoal.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Musden Hill

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Musden Hill, Musden Low [Map]

Musden Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Musden Hill. July 5th, began upon the first barrow on Musden Low [Map], near Calton, originally about twenty-seven yards diameter, but mutilated at one side. We made two excavations intersecting each other about the former centre of the mound, and reached the natural surface at the depth of about four feet from the summit, where lay a skeleton completely embedded in rats' bones. It is singular that this body, which had been buried in an entire state, had been partially blackened by the action of a fire kindled close by, for the purpose of burning another corpse, whose ashes were deposited near the same place; some of the rats' bones were charred in the same way, thus proving that a very long time had elapsed between the two interments, as the rats must have resorted for many generations to the place before any considerable quantity of their remains could have accumulated previous to their becoming blackened by the fire. Several pieces of fused lead had been gathered up with the deposit of burnt bones. Some pretty good instruments of calcined flint, and pieces of three urns, ranging apparently from the Celtic to the Romano-British period, were found in indeterminate positions.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Musden Hill, Musden Second Barrow [Map]

Musden Second Barrow is also in Prehistoric Peak Distrct Roman and Saxon Barrows.

Musden Second Barrow. July 18th, investigated a second barrow [Map] on Musden Hill, about a hundred yards from that opened on the 10th inst.; we cut two transverse sections through the centre, where a few burnt hones were found. More to the east was a skeleton with the head to the outside of the barrow, near it was a lump of flint devoid of form; and above and around it were fragments of two globular narrow-necked urns, ornamented with a few projections upon the shouliers, which had contained burnt bones. These are of the kind attributed to some of the Saxon tribes, many examples having been found in various cemeteries in this country, as well as on the Elbe, by the late Mr. Kemble. Below the calcined bones that had filled these urns was a thin layer of gravel, which had been exposed to heat sufficient to melt the small particles of lead ore usually found in it. Many pieces of flint were picked up in this part of the barrow, and part of a medieval pitcher, with vertical streaks of green glaze, was observed. None of the intererments had been protected by cists.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Musden Hill, Musden Third Barrow [Map]

Musden Third Barrow. On the 19th of May, we opened the third [Musden Third Barrow [Map]] of the group of barrows upon Musden Hill, which is a fine regularly shaped mound eighteen yards diameter, and five feet high, composed of nothing but stiff clayey earth. The natural soil was touched at the depth of four feet, and was changed to a red colour by fire, the traces of which, in the form of charcoal, strewed the surface for a considerable length. A round hole had been sunk about a foot through the upper stratuna of rock, near the centre of the barrow, which was filled with small stones and clay; a few burnt bones and some pieces of burnt flint, one of them part of a large instrument, were found about this part of the mound, but no interment was discovered although extensive trenches were made. There is little doubt of an interment by cremation being yet in some part of the barrow, which is one of the same class as those near Longnor, opened in 1848.

Lady Low. 20th of April, we reopened the third barrow [Musden Third Barrow [Map]] on Musdin Hill, examined on the 19th of May, 1849, by making a wide section through the middle. This time we cut a circular trench around our former excavation, and found some burnt bones near the surface, with a small piece of an urn and two flints. The upper part of the barrow was composed of diflerently coloured earth from the lower, in which we found no interment, although it showed no traces of having been disturbed by former digging.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Over Low Barrow [Map]

Over Low Barrow [Map], located 420m south of Nibs End Farm on a low-lying shelf in a valley situated a short distance north-north-west of the head of the steep valley containing Tinsell Brook. It survives as an oval mound of sand, small stones and earth up to 1.8m high with maximum dimensions of 35m by 33m. Limited antiquarian investigation close to the centre of the mound located two contracted inhumations, one of which was surrounded by a partial cist formed of a few flat stones. Flints and an urn sherd were also found.

Stanton. 28th of December, we opened a barrow called Over Low [Map], placed on the side of a hill, on the summit of which are some earthworks, near the village of Stanton. The tumulus, about 28 yards diameter, is composed of small sandstones and sand; near the middle were two contracted skeletons, very much decayed, lying within a yard of each other: a few flat stones placed on edge, so as to form a sort of cist, were placed round one of them, which was also accompanied by a few mean implements of flint, and one piece of thick coarse pottery.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Pike Low Barrow [Map]

Blore. 29th of September, we examined a tumulus at Pike Low [Map], between the villages of Waterhouses and Waterfall, which had likewise been destroyed by lime burning.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Ribden Low Barrow [Map]

Ribden Low Barrow is also in Prehistoric Peak Distrct Roman and Saxon Barrows.

Ribden Low. 29th of December, a barrow [Ribden Low Barrow [Map]] was opened between the villages of Cotton and Cauldon, called Ribden Low, about 30 yards diameter. In cutting through the centre, we found a large flat stone covering a rudely walled cist, built upon the natural surface, about three feet from the top of the barrow, containing a much decayed skeleton, which reposed in the usual flexed position, on its left side, accompanied by a remarkably beautiful spear-head of flint, and some other pieces of the same material, all of which had been slightly burnt; at the feet was a human skull much decayed. The ground continuing to sink by the side of the cist, we were led to another interment, which consisted of a deposit of calcined bones, placed in a hole dug two feet lower in the natural soil, and paved with flat stones. Amongst the bones were found three large instruments, and three barbed arrow-heads of flint, remains of about five bone implements, some of which appear to have been modelling or netting tools; others pointed at each end are perforated through the middle. They are all in bad preservation, owing to their having been calcined along with the corpse of the owner. The barrow was thickly strewn with burnt bones, fragments of pottery, and rats' bones.; and two very small pieces of bronze, slightly ornamented, were found near the capstone of the cist.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Round Low [Map]

Round Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Deepdale. Round Low [Map], near Deepdale, was partially investigated on the evenings of the 15th and 16th of June; one-half of the mound being under tillage, could not be explored. It is situated near one opened in 1846, and is of no great elevation, though about 30 yards across. In digging through the midst, we found a few scattered bones, some of which were calcined, a few instruments of flint, a piece of a fine urn, a few animal teeth, a piece of fused lead, and a number of pebbles and sandstone boulders not indigenous to the soil. The remaining half of the barrow has since been excavated without success.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Scrip Low [Map]

Stanton. On the 16th of March we opened Scrip Low [Map], a barrow near Stanton, composed of sandy earth and pebbles, and measuring about fourteen yards diameter. We found the interment, consisting of calcined bones, about eighteen inches from the surface, some distance north from the centre, surrounded by sandstones, which only occurred in that part of the barrow. A considerable space in the middle was uncovered, down to the natural surface, about two feet beneath the summit, where a layer of dark-coloured earth was observed, but nothing of importance found, a broken instrument of fiint, two small pieces of plain earthenware, and a few burnt bones only being observed.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Stonesteads Barrow [Map]

Stonesteads Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Waterhouses. On the 7th of April, we opened a barrow [Stonesteads Barrow [Map]] in a field called Stonesteads, a quarter of a mile from the village of Waterhouses, measuring 17 yards across, composed of earth, limestones, and boulders. Slightly South-East from the centre of the barrow, upon a pavement of thin flat stones raised 6 inches above the natural level of the land, lay the skeleton of a tall and strongly-built man, apparently beyond the middle period of life, who had been placed in the common flexed posture, with the head towards the outside of the tumulus. Near his feet was the tusk of a large boar, rubbed down on the inner surface to abput half the natural thickness, near the shoulders were two instruments of burnt flint, one round ended, the other, part of a neat arrow-point; and a section about half-an-inch long, cut from a large rib, and neatly dressed round the edge of the cut surfaces. On the floor of the barrow were indications of fire, and a few pieces of calcined bone, which render it probable that there had been a more ancient interment in the barrow, which was about eighteen inches in central elevation.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Thor's Wood Barrow [Map]

Thor's Wood Barrow is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Stanton. On the same day we opened two more barrows in land near Stanton, called Thor's Wood [Probably Thor's Wood Barrow [Map]], or Back-of-the-Low. The first was 14 yards across, and two feet high, wholly composed of earth intermixed with charcoal and flakes of flint. No interment was discovered by two cuttings which crossed each other in the centre of the tumulus.

The second barrow, about a hundred yards from the last, appeared to have been disturbed before. It is about 28 yards diameter and of considerable elevation, not however wholly artificial, a protruding rock having been rendered available as a nucleus by the mound builders, who added flat stones and clayey earth to complete the tumulus. Beneath many of the stones that happened to lie hollow, we observed a limey efflorescence, amongst which were innumerable snail-shells, both certain indications of the great antiquity of the mound. The natural level was found at rather more than three feet below the turf, with no better result than the discovery of one human tooth, and a few bits of bone.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Waterfall Low [Map]

Waterfall Low is also in Peak District Bronze Age Barrows.

Waterfall Low. Waterfall Low, a large tumulus [Waterfall Low [Map]] on an eminence overlooking the village of Waterfall, was opened on the 10th of June. It is a very conspicuous object, being 20 yards diameter and 9 feet high. We began by cutting across the centre through a mixture of earth and stone; at the north end of the trench was a thick stratum of red earth, which had evidently been burnt, under it the barrow was composed of loose stone, intermingled with pieces of human bone, stags' horns, rats' bones, and in some places with dark coloured earth containing charcoal. Near the middle, about eight feet from the surface, was a cavity three feet long and eighteen inches wide, cut in the rock to a further depth of between one and two feet; although this was plainly the grave, it contained only a few fragments of bone, having evidently been examined by barrow diggers of a former age. A large part of the centre of the barrow was turned over, with no more successful result than the finding of horses' teeth and chippings of flint.

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Wredon Hill [Map]

Europe, British Isles, North-Central England, Staffordshire, Waterhouses, Wredon Hill Barrow [Map]

Wredon Hill Barrow is also in Prehistoric Peak Distrct Roman and Saxon Barrows.

Readon Hill. September 4th, opened a barrow nineteen yards diameter and three feet high, on Readon Hill [Possibly Wredon Hill Barrow [Map]], near Ramshorn, which is mentioned by Plot, Hist. Staff, fol. 1686, p. 404. It contained two skeletons extended at length, about the centre, without any protection from the earth of which the mound was formed, with the exception of a few stones in contact with one of the bodies, which was possibly interred at a subsequent period to the other, as it was not more than two feet from the surface of the barrow, whilst the other lay on the natural level, at least three feet from the turf covering the mound. Vestiges of the hair of the former were perceptible about the skull, which was that of a young man, and in perfect preservation; and a small pebble was found at the right hand (compare Barrow [Map] opened 30th May, 1845, Vestiges, p. 67). The other, and probably earlier interment, was covered with a thin layer of charcoal. The skull is that of a middle-aged man, the vertex much elevated, the left side completely decayed from lying in contact with the floor of the barrow. At some distance from either of the skeletons, but nearest to the higher interment, from which, however, they were full two yards, lay an iron spear, thirteen inches long, with part of the shaft remaining in the socket, and a narrow iron knife, eight inches in length. An examination of these by the microscope, enables us to add the further information that the spear has been mounted on an ashen shaft, about one inch of which yet remains, owing its preservation to being saturated by the ferruginous matter produced by the decomposition of the iron - outside the iron are numerous casts of grassy fibre, and the larvae of insects, apparently flies - the grass must have been present at the time of interment in considerable quantity. The knife shews fewer traces of the vegetable, and more of the animal structures, the tang where inserted into the handle, shews the impression of horn. It is fortunate that metals in a state of oxydization have the property of taking, and retaining, the most delicate casts of substances the most perishable with which they lie in contact; we thus gain much valuable information as to the materials of dress in times of pre-historic antiquity, and are enabled to describe the circumstances under which the dead were committed to the grave, with an exactitude resulting from a strictly inductive method of reasoning. For example, we find that the early Celtic population, whose chief men were armed with the bronze celt and dagger, not only wore the skins of animals during life, but were enveloped in the same after death, and were thus laid upon a bed of moss or fern, before being buried out of the sight of their friends beneath the sepulchral mound. In later times, when the use of iron became so general as to supersede the more ancient metal bronze, we find a corresponding advancement in the materials of clothing, the impression of woven fabrics, of varying degrees of fineness, being almost invariably distinguishable on the rust of weapons found in the barrows; although the old custom of providing a grassy couch for the remains of the deceased was still retained, from an intuitive feeling beautifully expressed by Sir Thomas Browne, in his Hydriotaphia, when referring to the sepulture of the ancients, he writes - "that they have wished their bones might lie soft, and the earth be light upon them. Even such as hope to rise again would not be content with central interment, or so desperately to place their reliques as to be beyond discovery, and in no way to be seen again; which happy contrivance hath made communication with our forefathers, and left unto our view some parts which they never beheld themselves."

On the following day we examined another barrow in the same neighbourhood, about 21 yards diameter. It is called Wardlow, and is constructed over a lump of rock, in the middle of which was cut a grave, which we found had been previously disturbed, it had originally contained a skeleton with burnt bones, and chippings of flint. A cutting through the side of the mound where there was the greatest accumulation of factitious earth, produced many fragments of human bone, together with those of the water rat.