The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-04
Grnres Of Ancient BrItons.
INTERESTING Discoveries IN TaE YORKSHIRE
TUMULI.


TUMULT.
A letter from Nation, Eugand, says the
scientifo Investigations among the graves of
the ancient Britons, which, az intervals, for
three years past, have been carried on by the
Rev Canon Greenwich of Darham, aud other
arcb@ologists, upon the Yorkshire Wolds,
have been resumed, aud are Occasionipg much
interest. Two large bArows have been ex
amined both Of which have proved prolif in
remains, and have yielded results OF valua-
BILE nature, some OF whijh have hitherto not
betn previously observed. The details of
these discoveries briefly these:
Barrow No. l was 66 feet in dismster aud 2
feet high, formed of earth and chalk rubbs.
Six feet south of the centre an uuburnt boiy,
contracted and laid on the lett side, was found,
the head being to the south, aud both hinls
up to the face. This burial was upon the
natural surface of the ground Three feet
north Of this was a burnt boiy, the bones
forming a round heap 10 inches through, aud
s inches above the natural surface, a later
introduced buIial, among the bones being two
pieces of funeral urn. At 6 feet southeast
of the CENTRE also on the natural surface, was
the body of young person on the right lie,
with the head TO the west; aud at 8 feet west
OF the centre was a second burnt body at the
same level as the first.
The great discovery occurred at the centre
of the barrow. Here grave was dug into
feet six inches by six feet, aud three feet
ten inches deep. In the iiiug-in of the
grave some teeth and various bones of a
disturbed human body, with three pieoss of
urn and q piece OF JET, were found, dJub!-
less the remains Of a PRIMARY interment dis
turbed by the digging OF the grave for a later
burial. At the bottom of the grave was the
body OF q man lying on his left side, at the
southeast side, with the head to the south
east the body contracted. Ia front OF the
head was a fine pierced stone axe. hammer,
the edge of which was touching the face, the
handle having been held in the right hand.
The edge had never been intended for cut
ting, It being carefully squared, more like
modern thin-edge hammer. The weapon or
implement is splendid example, aud has
clearly never been in use before it was in
tered with its owner. Behind the head
were a thumb flint and flint flake, and
there was charcoal about the body.
Closely adjoining this grave was another,
northeast by southwest, the two being united
by an excavated passage two feet wide. Tne
second grave was Six feet by four feet six
inches, and few inches shallower. At the
northeast end was the body of a woman con-
tracted, the head to the northeast, the two
burials, therefore, being made facing each
other. Touching the temporal bones of the
skull were two earrings of peculiar oonstruc-
ton, one on each side. They were formed of
bronze, and had been made thus:-A piece of
bronze had been beaten out fiat at one end
having a circular edge, the other end being
hammered into pin. This hal been passed
through the lobe of the ear, then the Fl at
part rolled back, and the pin turned into it,
When once attached, there ore, the earrings
must have remained permanently fixed. Be.
hind the head of this British lady were two
flints, and under the body we're remains OF
wood, as il it had been buried on boards and
then strewed with charcoal. The unbared
skeletons lying within twin graves presented
very curious spectacle. 1t was generally
agreed that the bufials were those of man and
wife. In the materials of the mound was a
very large number of flint clippings, among
them being fine examples of thumb flint, a
drill, and tool of enigmatical use. Charcoal
was found throughout the house, but there
were very few potsherds.
The second barrow was 70 feet in diameter
and only II feet high, formed of earth and
chalk. At l6 feet sOuth.southw invest of the
centre, on the natural surface, was the body
of man, contracted, on the right side, with
head to west and hands up TO face. Two feet
east of the hip of this body was chld's skull,
the other bones, If they had ever been there,
having quite decayed. Touching the face OF
the child was very small, chisel-like green
stone axe, the cutting edge to the face. Ten
feet southeast OF the centre was hole feet
inches 0eep. In this were charcoal and
various tlints, and near the top tooth and
some animals bones.
Six feet northwest of the centre was the
body of yOuDg man, on the left side, head
to the east. Behind the head were a thumb
flint AND fine oval-shaped flint knife. Nine
feet west of the centre were part of human
pelvis and various other bones, disturbed by
rabbit digging, or perhaps by interment of the
body above mentioned. Immediately west of
that body, the feet of which extend over it,
was a grave northwest by southeast, feet 10
inches by feet inches, aud 3 feet inches
deep. AT the east end OF the grave was the
doubled-up body of young man, on the left
side, hands to face and head to southeast.
This body had been enclosed in wood. About
feet above the body was a remarkably fine
beautifully Clipped. The Investigations are
being proceeded with on the Canton, Sher-
buIn and Wellerby Wolds.