New-York tribune., 1897-08-22
ANCIENT .NOI NDS IN ENGLAND
RARE RELICS FOUND IN THhM-UNDIS-
TURBED FOR CENTURIES.
From The Philadelphia Times.


Scientific men are deeply interested in arch-
geological discoveries just made concerning the
ancient Brtons. Thirteen graves opened al Il
little place called Danesdale, near l'rlHe,u, II.
Iroet Tnrkshirc revealed relics that showed that
Tho burials took place at least a thousand years
before the advent of William the Conqueror 10
British soil For SO long that the memory OF
man rInneth not to the contrary, the HioupuS
or graves lust opened have been supposed TO be
the last resting places of ancient Danes Ihey
we're called thc Danes graves. Indeed 'he
town Of Danesdale referred to gained ITS name
from that suppositioh. The graves or mounds
are 113 i'm number, but only thirteen have thus
Car boon opeucd They are surrounded by
forests and upon some of the mounds huge trees
are growing .
Archaologists have long believed that investi-
cation Of the ancient mounds would lead to I'M
portant discoveries 1t was this sentiment
which led the East Riding Antiquarian society
through Canon Greenwcll of Durham, to lnstl-
tute the inquiry which resulted in opening the
mounds Deep down in the first mound opened
was found not only the bones of an ancient
Rriton but the iron tire of his chariot, the iron
bit and trappings of his horse. and a bronze pln
/ beautiful in design. and cnamcled. The shape
Of the grave and the curious curlcd-up position
/ Of the skeleton left no doubt to the age to
which all belonged and disposed to the salts
faction Of every of the Danish theory which
had 50 long prevailed
Perhaps the most notable Of the relics so far
as establishing the antiquity thereof is con-
cerncd was the bronze pin 1t is a specimen Of
| the earliest known British enamcng and is of
y
a peculiar twist il the shank which makes it's
origin an absolute certainty. 1t 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 at a certain point in the
development Of Britain. This fact is known abb
solutey. and therefore this pin settles beyond
question the point to the time bofore which it
must have been made.
Two other graves were opened at Arras and
Beverley in which chariOts were found, and in
| the one at Arras the tires and naves Of the
wheels were complete. The tires are Of iron and
the naVcs Of bronze. There We're also found in
/ these graves an iron mirror with bronze mount
| ings the end Of n shank Of n 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 10 decay, but at
Arras the human remains and the bones Of the
horses appeared as fresh II they had been
buried a hundred years ago.
The graves referred to as having been opened
were not close together For instance. the places
Of discovery, Dancslalc and Arras are twelve
miles apart. The theory advanced by the
| archrologists who have taken the matter up Is
! that the district throughout which the mounds
| are found was formerly the burying place Of
| the ancient Britons probably years before the
! Danes attempted the conquest of the island. The
relics discovered indicate that they were
part of and the property Of leaders among the
| aboriginal inhabitants Of Britain
There has been a dispute for very long time
between arch~ologists as to the occupation OF
| the territory in which the mounds were found