Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/265

Rh appointed to investigate the matter. Mr. Worsaae had found in one great deposit of this kind, chiefly consisting of oyster-shells, numerous bones of animals, celts and arrow-heads of flint, some of them broken, bones broken for the purpose of extracting the marrow, charcoal, and other traces of the early occupants of the coasts. He had been much struck by finding that Sir Charles Lyell, in his second "Tour to the United States," had described precisely similar deposits, at no great distance from the shore, consisting of oyster and other shells, amongst which are to he found similar relics of bone, &c, as in Denmark. The comparison of these analogous facts, in quarters of the globe remote from each other, had satisfactorily established the conclusion that these deposits are to be viewed as the vestiges of the earliest settlers on the coasts. The discoveries in certain caverns near the sea, as at Kents' Hole, Torquay, and near Berry Head, deserve notice, as presenting indications of a similar nature.

Mr. alluded to the intended meeting of the Institute in the ensuing summer, in the neighbourhood of one of the most remarkable achievements of the skill and industry of the Romans in this country—the Wall of Hadrian. He hoped that on the occasion of their approaching northern congress some detailed memoir on the Wall of Antoninus might be communicated; and he felt so strongly the interest of bringing together all information which might conduce to illustrate the subject of such defences, that he proposed to make an actual inspection of the great line of wall, raised by Roman perseverance between the Danube and the Rhine. He purposed shortly to set forth with this object in view, intending to commence with the most remote part of the work, in the neighbourhood of Ratisbon. The entire line of wall extended about 160 miles, and Mr. Yates expressed the wish that other antiquaries who might be inclined to share in such an exploration, might have leisure and disposition to take part in this inspection, preliminary to their visit to Newcastle.

By Mr. .—A series of coloured drawings, representing the painted decorations of the wooden cases in which the remarkable mummy in the possession of Mr. Hopkinson, of Edgeworth, lately unrolled, had been enclosed: they have been presented by him to the Museum at Gloucester. The deceased appeared to have been one of the navigators of the sacred bark of Amen Ra. Mr. Birch explained the import of the hieroglyphics depicted upon the mummy-chests, admirably reproduced in the drawings exhibited, which were executed by Mr. John Jones, of Gloucester.

By Mr. .—A gold British coin, of Cunobeline, Obv., Pegasus to the right, underneath—. Rev., an ear of wheat between the letters. Compare Ruding, pl. 4, fig. 5.

By Mr. .—Two beads of glass, found in Ireland, one of them of intense blue colour, discovered in ploughing near Donaghmoyne; the other of a less brilliant blue, ornamented with spiral bands of opaque paste: it was found near the church, at Magheracloony, co. Monaghan. Also a bronze pin, with a singular dilated head, bearing a resemblance to the lotus flower of the Egyptians.

By Mr. .—A large collection of Irish antiquities, illustrative of the varied forms of the fibulæ and the bodkin, objects much used in the dress of the ancient Irish, and presenting a remarkable variety of types.