Page:Early Man in Britain and His Place in the Tertiary Period.djvu/467

] may mention the red coral ornamenting the oblong shield found in the river Witham near Lincoln.

Britain also was connected with the trade-route passing down the valleys of the Rhine, and from the intimate association of the British with the adjacent Gallic tribes, they must have been acquainted with the arts of navigation. The Veneti possessed a marine capable of contending with the Roman galleys almost on equal terms, and the Britons first came in contact with the Roman arms as their allies. It may be concluded also that they were acquainted with the nearest coasts of Denmark and Germany, from their possession of ships, and from the fact that Pytheas sailed from the North Foreland to explore Thule and the amber coast.

The civilisation of the Iron age in France, Switzerland, and Germany, presents no important points of difference as compared with that of Britain. It was, however, more directly influenced, as would naturally be expected, by the Etruskans and the Greeks. M. Chantre has called attention to the numerous articles of metal work of Etruskan design, which have found their way through the passes of the Alps into France; and Lindenschmidt, Hildebrand, Virchow, and others, to those