Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/152

112 112 NOTICES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS. it is accompanied, may not be unwelcome.' But in the unassuming title of this volume it is not announced that its pages comprise matter specially interesting to the antiquary, and that herein are preserved memorials of archaeological observations of which Mr. Dixon has left no other record. Ilad his life been spared, he would doubtless have brought together all the re- sults of his researches of this nature at various times, and would have supplied a valuable contribution to the memorials of the British and Roman periods. One of the most interesting discoveries in Sussex, connected with the early occupants of these islands, has been related by Mr. Dixon in the " Collections," published by the Archaeological Society of that county (vol. i., p. 55). We allude to the excavation, conducted under his direction, on Storrington Downs, near Petworth, which produced a remarkable urn, measuring not less than 21 inches in height, and 13 in breadth. This striking relic of a rude age excited the admiration of the late Sir Richard Colt Hoare, who pronounced the urn to be one of the finest known to him. No particulars regarding this discovery are found in the volume before us; and we must refer our readers to the brief account in the interesting Transactions above cited. They may also find therein curious notices of objects of the "Bronze Period," — some of them unique, and wholly col- lected in Sussex.^ The locality in which Mr. Dixon's observations commence is one interesting alike for its ancient recollections and the features of its geological formation. Selsey, the most southerly point of the county, and visited doubtless in very early times by the inhabitants of the opposite coast, or even by navigators from more remote shores, was occupied by the Romans, and became the site of an ancient Saxon establishment. Few vestiges now remain of those times. The district christianised by St. Wilfrid in the seventh century, and the site of the episcopal see from his days, until its removal to Chichester, not long previously to the Conqtiest, has been ravaged by the encroachments of the sea, which have progressed rapidly ever since the days when Camden wrote thus of Selsey : — " Antiquae urbeculse, in qua Episcopi sederunt, cadaver solummodo jacet, aquis intectum quoties ex alto maris Kstus intumescit, cum vei'o residet, apertum, et conspicuum."-' From these shores various interesting relics were obtained ; and by the kindness of Mrs. Dixon, we are enabled to lay before our readers the accompanying representations A relic of especial interest is the penannular ring of pure gold. It is of the type frequently described by Irish archaeologists as *' ring-money," but of great rarity in England. Two specimens, however, found in Dorsetshire, are described in Mr. Way's memoir on ancient ornaments of gold (Journal, vol. vi., p. 56) ; and it is stated that a fourth has been discovered near Bridgewater. The ring here represented, weighing 104 graios, was found on the shore of Bracklesham Bay, to the north-west of Selsey, on which are often discovered particles of pure gold, some of them impressed with patterns ; occasionally also sea-worn British coins, and relics of a Roman age. The blade of a bronze weapon, pro- ' This volume contains forty plates, of culation. Copies may be obtained by remarkably skilful execution, the utmost application to Mrs. Dixon, Worthing, care having been taken to insure minute - Sussex Archaeological Collections, vol. accuracy. It was not completed at the ii., p. "260. time of Mr. Dixon's decease, and has only 3 Britannia, p. 220, ed. 1607. Two recently been produced, under the care of coffin-lids, described as " Saxon," remain Professor Owen. It was " printed for the at Selsey Church, author," who contemplated a limited cii--