Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/254

176 176 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF the material was of finer quality, and better mixed than the true Roman brick or tile. To this time I was unable to consider these appearances as older than the medieval period. " On subsequent examination of the plains of Alderney, this opinion was in some measure overthrown ; for there the ' Samian ' ware was very abundant, Avith Roman coins, bronze instruments, and indisputable vestiges of the conquerors of Gaul ; and there also these strange clay clumps were strewed over the land. In 18-io, and during the Meeting at Canterbury, I made known these facts, but did not obtain any solid information, and it was only some time later that I heard of similar objects found in Romney Marsh, amongst Roman remains. Still, it seemed difficult to account for the ditference of the material, supposing the Roman pottery and the hand- bricks to be co-eval, and I was inclined rather to believe the latter to be intermediate between Roman and Medieval. " Whilst thus in doubt, we examined a small cromlech in Guernsey, and to our surprise we found a hand-brick, with several flint arrow-heads, and vessels of a ware not far removed in quality from that of the clumps, inter- mixed with old Celtic potterj' of totally different nature, in shape, character, and markings. It must, however, be considered that there were evidences of a previous, though ancient, disturbance of the contents of the Cromlech. " The hand-bricks have since been found in many other places, and indeed they seem very generally dispersed in the Channel Islands. In form they resemble each other, but in size they vary from one inch to five in length. I have not been able to apply them solely to the left hand as observed in regard to the Lincolnshire clumps, although many seem to fit that side. The impression of the skin would indicate the adult hand of a clay-worker, and the kneading of the material to be very primitive. They seem to have been first dried in the sun, having been placed for that purpose on a board, near its edge, and pressed down ; a projection being often found, formed apparently by the soft clay lapping over the edge of the board. Many were curved in the process of drying, and are nearly bent double. I have sent some to the potteries ; and although we have attained only to con- jecture regarding their use, it seems possible that they might have served to form a sort of stand, upon which earthen vessels might be raised, in the process of baking, the end with the lap above mentioned being placed up- wards, so that the projections answered the purpose of keeping the vessel from slipping oif. I have not discovered any indentation on the vessels, to assure me of the fact. I possess several clumps of somewhat different form, (the ends much dilated,) which would very nearly prove their use in the making or supporting earthen vessels. These are not so numerous as the hand-bricks, neither are finger- marks seen on the clay. they chiefly lead to the idea of the clumps having been cither missiles, or used as offensive weapons — on a shore so abounding with well-rounded pebbles, the idea is not tenable. I am disposed to connect them with old potteries, but I am doubtful whether they belong to the Bronze, or
 * ' I have obtained many suggestions and opinions, but none of value, as