Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/523

Rh lay a skeleton, with the head towards the S.S.E. Over the feet of this skeleton, within the space of 2 feet in diameter, were a quantity of bones and four skulls, all of large size, and having the teeth perfectly sound. They were separately protected by flat stones, set edgeways, and slanting over them. I here found a plain bone pin 3$1⁄4$ inches in length, neatly formed, with a rounded head. On removing the stone nearest to the centre, I found that there was another, similarly placed, at right angles to it. Immediately in the east angle formed by these two stones was a skull, belonging to a skeleton lying at right angles to the one already mentioned, and protected by large stones. In the opposite angle, and lying parallel with, and close to, the division wall first named, was the skeleton, apparently of a woman; but with these remains I did not notice any skull. I here found a green glass bead, in form merely a drop of glass, pierced through. Upon the breast of this skeleton, lying on its side, but crushed by the stones which were packed over it, was a small urn, measuring in diameter at the top 6 inches. It was not sufficiently perfect to enable me to measure correctly its height; but this was probably about 6 inches. It presented the appearance, as regards its fabrication, usual in British urns. It has a row of projecting knobs a little below the rim of the mouth, and is without any scored or impressed ornament. At right angles to this skeleton was another, with the feet towards the south, lying on its side. The skull was a very large one. I was, however, obliged to discontinue my researches, without tracing this to the feet. The whole of these interments were placed upon a bed of stones of various sizes, packed together without any earth, to the depth of 4 feet,—making 7 feet from the top of the barrow, and about 3 feet beneath the level of the surrounding soil.

"I much regret that my applications for permission to explore the tumuli which are situated in different parts of the island have been refused. Consequently I cannot venture any opinion respecting that which I have described. I merely subjoin two extracts from Hutchins's History of Dorset. Speaking of the Isle of Purbeck, he says,—'Few or no traces of the Romans appear, though it could not be unknown to that people, one of their vicinal ways being directed from Dorchester to Wareham.' And again,—'Many tumuli are scattered all over the island. The nine barrows near Corfe are probably British; those round Poole and Stutland Bay, Danish. Some, in the other parts of the island, may be Roman.'

"I know not what reason Hutchins may have had for supposing the barrows upon the large tract of heath land which lies between the Purbeck Hills and Poole Harbour to be Danish; but I do not myself think the circumstance that the Danes were frequently in possession of Wareham any