The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-26
FOUND IN OLD ENGLISH MOUNDS.
Relics That May Cause a Revision of
n Period of English History.


Period of English History.
From the New Orleans Times-Democrat
London.-Scienthc men are deeply in
terested in archaeological discoveries just
made concerning the ancient Britons.
Thirteen graves opened at little place
called Danesdale, near Drifield. in East
Yorkshire. revealed relics that showed
that the burials took place at least 1000
years before the advent of William the
Conqueror to British soil.
For so long that the memory of man
runneth not to the contrary the mounds
or graves just opened have been supposed
to be the last resting places of ancient
Danes. They were called the Danes
graves Indeed. the town of GAINESVILLE
referred to gained its name from that
supposition. The graves or mounds are
lf3 IN number, but only thirteen have
thus far been opened. They are sur
rounded by forests, and upon some of the
mounds huge trees grow.
Archaeologists have long believed that
investigation Of the ancient mounds would
lead to important discoveries. 1t was
this sentiment which led the East Riding
Antiquarian ESoeiety, through Canon
Greenwich of Durham to institute the
inquiry which resulted in opening the
mounds. Deep down in the first mound
opened We're found not only the bones Of
an ancient Briton. but the iron tire of
his chariot, the iron bit and trappings Of
his horse, and a bronze pin. beautiful in
design, and enameled. The shape of tina
grave and the curious curled-up position
Of the skeleton left no doubt as to the
age to which all belonged. and disposed
to the satisfaction of every one of the
Danish theory which has so long prevail
ed.
Perhaps the most notable of the relics
so far as establishing the antiquity there
OF is concerned, was the bronze pin. Ii is
specimen of the earliest known British
enameling, and is of type most peculiar
TO the iron period. 1t has a peculiar tvyist
in the shank which makes its origin an
absolute certainty It is one of the curious
facts found in British history that pins
such as the one described only existed
during a certain period. Distinct changes
in articles of this sort were made al a
certain point in the development OF Bril-
tain. This fact is known absolutely, and
therefore this pin settles beyond question
the point as TO the time before which ir
must have been made.
Two other graves were opened In Arras
and Beverley in which chariots We're
found, and in the one at Arras the tires
and naves Of the wheels were complete.
The tires are of iron and the naves bronze
There were also found in these graves an
iron mirror with bronze mountings the
end Of a shank of a bronze whip and two
or three rings through which the reins OF
the chariot must have been carried The
bones found at Beverley had gone TO de-
cay, but at Arras the human remains and
the bones OF the horses appeared as fresh
as # they had been buried 100 years ago
The graves referred 90 as having been
opened were not close together. For in
stance, the places Of discovery, Danesdais
and Arras, are twelve miles apart The
theory advanced by the aTclaeO logists
who have taken the matter up is that
the district through which the mounds
are found was formerly the Durying place
of the ancient Briton. probably years be-
fore the Danes attempted the conquest OF
the island. The relies discovered indicate
that they once were part of and the prop
erty of leaders among the aboriginal ia
habitants of Britain.
/ There has been "a dispute for a very
Ions time between archaeOldgists as 10 the
occupation of the territory in which the
mounds were found by the Danes and by
the early Britons. one faction Of disput-
ants held that the mounds being accepted
as graves Of ancient Danes. were COM
elusive evidence that the. Danes We're iu
possession Of the country centuries bafOr.
some persons claimed 10 believe. The Sec
ond faction held that the Danes had never
he'd possession Of the country. but chat 30
was for centuries located in the center OK
the stronghold Of the Britons OF early
days.
The formation OF the tires and the naves
! Of the charots found also iuIicato "A
hitherto unknown communie alton between
the Romans and the early Britous. Tho
tires and the naves are almost exactly
similar TO those now tn the British mu-
scum IN London, which are known 10 have
been In use Ia Rome about the samc
period Ia which the original chariots TO
| which the British tires and naves were att
| tached sped over the soil OF the island.
u establishes a new fact in history I'm
reference TO the relations and power OF
| Rome, aud while IL settles one dispute
makes seemingly in orrect number OF
assertions REGARDING the period in which
the buriais In the British graves took
place.
II is very likely that several more q
these mounds viii be opened for the pur-
pose Of aseCrtaini0g whether they are the
resting places Of Bu,ous of a certain ccn-
fury or whether AS many believe. the
mounds are located in what was the burial
gro lnd Of the leaders Of the early BrItons
Tor many centuries Should an, ntter
prove true, q o. moro than likely that
discoveries VIII boz madn which WI pn-
tlrcy change the history aH Gar as o. rc-
lntcs Go that period wAlch ia Up 20 the
I Conougaf