The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-27 00:00:00

711 E YORKSHIRE WOLD TUMULI.

In continuance of the pre-historic inquiries on the
Yorkshire \Volds a series of seven low tumuli—

almost obliterated by cultivation of the land—have
been opened by the Rev. Canon Greenwell, of Dur-
ham, and with him several distinguished archat)lo-
gists. The researches are being made in
the vicinity of Weaverthorpe, on the northern range
of hills reaching from Mahon to Filey. Very inte-
resting and valuable discoveries have been made, of
which the following are the chief details :—" The
tumulus first opened was 22ft. diameter and 2ft.

high. At the centre, upon the natural surface, was
the skeleton of a female laid on the left side with
head to N.E., with the hands up to the head. The
body was doubled up. Upon the right wrist was a
beautiful bronze armlet, of the snake-head pattern,
a succession of oval swellings lengthwise, and quite
perfect. Close to the neck was a delicate bronze
fibula, of the bow shape, extremely elegant in
workmanship, which had originally had a tongue of
the same metal. This had been broken off, and
replaced by an iron tongue, fixed in a piece of
wood which passed through the bronze coil of the
fibula. On the cheat was a necklace of beads,
53 being of glass and 17 of amber. The glass beads
were most beautiful. They were all blue in colour
and ornamented (with one exception) with a zig-
zag pattern in white enamel. The exceptional one
was larger and more globular in form, and was
ornamented with amulets of white—identical with

the glass beads of the well-known Arras find in 1817.
The mound contained a quantity of potsherds, and
a few flint chippings. The next barrow was 27 feet
in diameter, and only one foot high. A trench 7f t.
long, lft wide, and 31t. deep, had been dug on the
south side, but this contained nothing but broken
animal bones and potsherds. At the centre on the
surface was the body of a female with head to the
north, laid on her left side, with hands up to the
face, and body doubled up into the least
possible space, being from head to foot only
35 inches. On the right wrist, in this case
too, was a perfect bronze armlet of the most beautiful
description, resembling a delicately formed cog-
wheel, with rounded teeth on both sides, the rim
between the teeth being ornamented with three
grooved lines. For exquisite preservation, delicacy
and beauty of workmanship, high polish and brilliant
patina, this armlet is not to be surpassed. This was
similar to the Arras finds, except in being more
delicate. Ike skull was remarkably thick4udstroug,

while the other bones were very light and slender.
Below the hip were the remains of a plain urn of a
peculiar dark coloured ware. Below the body, and
quite to the left of it, formed E. and W., was a hole
or trench, 7ft. by 4ft. and 2ft. deep, containing
flint chippings, animal bones, and charcoal, and
numerous parts of a dark urn spread about. Among
the Lones was the core of an ox's horn, which had
been clean cut from the head. The third barrow
was 50ft. in diameter and 2ft. high. At the centre,
upon the natural surface, was a doubled-up body on
the right side, the head to S.S.E., the right hand
under the head, the left on the hip. At the feet were
much charcoal, several fragments of pottery, and a
few flint clippings. The fourth barrow was 32ft.
diameter and 2ft. high. At the centre, on the sur-
face, was a body on the left side, with head to N.E.
The right arm down by the side, the fingers touch-
ing the knee, hand flat, the left arm extended from
the elbow, hand also flat, and both with the palms
upwards. Six inches below the body were many
fragments of a peculiarly plain, dark urn. Four
feet S.E. of the centre was a hollow 3ft. by 2ft.
and 18in. deep, which contained much burnt
matter, parts of an urn, a thumb flint, and several
flakes. Four feet west of the centre was another
similar but larger hole, filled with black matter
and charcoal, and with sides burnt a dark red colour.
The fifth barrow was 46ft. in diameter and 2ft. high.
At the centre, in an oval grave, 7ft. by 4ft. and
lift. deep, N. W. by S.E., was a body on the left
side, contracted, head to S.E., right hand up to the
head, and left on the chest. A great quantity of
charcoal was about the body. To inter this body a
burnt burial and an unburnt body of a child had
been disturbed, pieces of burnt bone and a child's
lower jaw being close to the intruding burial. Above
the body were parts of a highly ornate " drinking
cup" and portions of cinerary urn. The sixth barrow
was 50ft. in diameter and lift. high. At the centre
was an oval hollow, 4ift. by 4ft. 4in. deep, contain-
ing two doubled-up bodies, and between their heads
an urn, small and rude, and covered with scorings.
The first body was on the right side, with head to
N.W. ; the other was on the left side, with head to
S.E. Under the second body was a considerable
quantity of black unctuous matter resembling de-
cayed wood. This has often been observed. In the
hone were a few animal bones, potsherds, and some
flint clippings. The seventh barrow was 42ft.
diameter and lft. high. At the centre was a body
on the left side, with head to N., and both hands
upon the knees. There were one potsherd and some
animal bones ; among them the tine of red deer
rubbed down into a pointed implement. This highly
interesting group of barrows bears a strong resem-
blance to the remarkable group near Arras, Market
Weighton, opened by the Rev. E. W. Stillingfleet
and Mr. Clarkson, in 1817, the following years.
The ornaments are almost identical, and other mat-
ters point to the same people. They are evidently
of a date long subsequent to the mass of barrows
on the IVolds, and belong doubtless to the late Kul-
tic period, after the introduction of iron, and may
date one or two centuries before our era. Not far
distant, however, from them is a large mound con-
taining a vast number of bodies, all of a people of
much earlier race. This is being investigated.—
Sheffield Daily Telegraph.