UC-NRLF DA NVS" $C 23b 3D3 ■>» GIFT OF Dr. C. A. Kofoid / i f m % :«^ i # ♦ *#^» *^ I m I THE ;tieiee]l ■ IB Am" m(©w, ' ' t Urna legid Cinerts. A.D.1826. Ja!B«9ir«.rculj>. Published foT «r. A.Mile s . iM, ♦ v^ DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVEREL BARROW, OPENED A. D. 1825. ALSO, 91 iHmute account OF THE KIMMERIDGE COAL MONEY, A MOST MYSTERIOUS AMD NONDESCRIPT ARTICLE. BY WILLIAM AUGUSTUS MILES, Esq. LONDON: NICHOLS & SON, PARLIAMENT-STREET ; BKODIE AND DOWDING, SALISBURY; UPHAM AND FOKD, BATH; NORTON, BRISTOL J AND THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS IN DORSETSHIRE. CKOCKERS, PRINTERS, FROME. 1826. J) f\ \j /V| 3 TO SIR RICHARD COLT HOARE, OF STOURHEAD, BART. THESE PAGES i^ixhWitti utUier i^^ patronage) ARE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY HIS OBEDIENT AND HUMBLE SERVANT, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS MILES. 988993 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/descriptionofdevOOmilerich TO WILLIAM AUGUSTUS MILES, ESQ. SIR, • /•.>>-. '-' . It is always gratifying to patronize a work that is deserving of patronage ; and such is the one that you have now laid before the public ; most highly interesting, novel, and' unique in its way, for no such barrow has ever yet been discovered in our island, nor has the Coal Money ever been so minutely investigated. I have been for many years past engaged in opening the numerous barrows about Stonehenge, Abury, and Everley, in Wilts ; and you have been more fortunate in this one tumulus, than I have been in hundreds: nor have I in my museum more than one of the upright form, like those numbered 2, 3, 7, 12, 15, 22. I can safely pronounce your urns to be of the earliest British manufacture, which their coarse texture will sufficiently evince; they also differ materially in form from those I have found: but still the favorite zig-zag ornament of the Britons, is observable on your urns as well as on mine. From the plan of your Deverel barrow, it appears that it was raised for a family or general deposit : that the urns and cists were so placed as to designate a circle, which circle was left incomplete on the northern side j and that in this circle there were two stones larger and more prominent than the rest, under which there were no sepulchral interments : they may therefore be considered as ' ''ifUtan, If mis conjecture is well founded, the barrow must have ' • •' ■beeia.'firi^tiently're-Opened to receive the deposits, for I can hardly conceive them to have been all deposited at one time. Though tliese curious urns have been safely consigned to the Museum of the Bristol Institution, where their merits will be duly appreciated, I cannot but regret that they have been removed to a distant county, and that no Patron could be found to shelter them in their native soil. KIMMERIDGE COAL MONEY. In your investigation of this very singular relic, you tread upon unknown and very mysterious ground ; and notwithstanding your zealous researches, much must be left to conjecture. You have however done more than your predecessors ; for Hutchins, though a faithful historian, was no antiquary, and I fear that the ablest antiquaries of the present enlightened age, will not be able to ascertain for what use these articles were destined, or at what period they were formed. That they were made by some very ancient and civilized people, I can have no doubt: that the Coal ▼u Money was turned by the lathe is certain, from the central point on one side, and the various perforations from one to Jive on the other. The circles in the rude piece of coal (described in the plate) are evidently marked by the compass : that some superstitious or religious idea was annexed to them is probable, as they have been found in urns, with interments, and especially around the sacrifice of a young bullock's head. In the year 1819> Mr. Frampton, of Moreton, sent me some of this Coal Money, found in an eaithen pot of very rude manufacture ; and Mr. HuTCHiNS, vol. I. p. 445, mentions its having been found in barrows near Bradford-Peverell, in this county. The quantity of very thin black pottery which I saw dug up mixed with the Coal Money, proves that some ancient population resided in this spot, and on the neighbouring coast : but I will not venture even to guess what nation inhabited these shores, whether Phaenician, Tyrian, or Greek. We know from history, that the first traded with the Britons to the Scilly Islands for tin : why therefore should they not haye extended their course across the seas to the isle of Purbeck, which abounded with cattle, to trade for skins, hides, &c. We know also that it was a very ancient custom to offer up sacrifices and vows for the safe journey and happy return of the traveller ; for among the ruins of the temple of Jupiter on Mont St. Bernard, in Switzerland, there is still preserved an inscription, VUl Pro itu et reditu; and the chapels in Italy abound in ex votis, offered up to prevent illness, and out of gratitude for a recovery. The decided sacrifice of a young bullock, whose head was placed in a rude patera, and within a cist, on the outside of which were several pieces of Coal Money, evidently prove that such a * sacrifice had taken place ; but on what occasion we know not, — ■ perhaps to propitiate a safe return to the vessel that traded from this little port. These are all the conclusions we can draw from the relics of this place, which was evidently the mint in which these curious articles have been formed and discovered : and I think myself particularly fortunate in having attended you on the day, when in less than an hour, we dug up nearly one hundred pieces of the Coal Money. It is somewhat singular, that in no other district of our island, similar relics have been found, which circumstance increases our curiosity to investigate them ; but we must still remain in doubt and uncertainty respecting the use to which these articles were originally appropriated, and indulge a fond hope that some more fortunate antiquary may be able, in future times, to throw a more important light on these hitherto mysterious relics of antiquity. Truly your's, R. C. HOARE. Stourhead, « THE DEVEREL BARROW. ^EMOKA IS FALLEN — ^JURA IS AN HEAP, AND SELMA IS SILENT — THE SOUND OF THEIR SHELL HAS LONG SINCE PASs'd ^THE SONG OF THEIR BARDS AND THE VOICE OF THEIR HARPS ARE OVER A GREEN MOUND OF EARTH, A MOSS-CLAD STONE LIFTING THROUGH IT HERE AND THERE ITS GREY HEAD, IS ALL THAT PRESERVES ITS MEMORY. GALLIC ANTIQUITIES, P. 153. A PARTIAL consideration bestowed upon the earliest days of our island, astonishes the superficial observer ; a minute's investigation overwhelms the enquirer with wonder and conjecture ; a strange similarity of customs, which all nations have observed, adds more intricacy than affords assistance in tracing the labyrinth of antiquity. The Pyramids of Egypt and of Mexico — traces of Gre- cian settlements on the Mediterranean and in Trinidad,* * The Literary Gazette of January 1826, contains an interesting communication on the subject of some Grecian Vases and a Coin lately discovered in Trinidad, by Mr. Urbna, and we further find on reference to the Archaeologia, vol. 5, p. 319, that high up the Black River have been discovered the remains of Ancient Potteries. The Pyramids of Mexico are noticed in Bullock's Travels. are points relative to early history, which prove a common source or general intercourse to have existed, and a more extended knowledge of maritime affairs than is generally allowed the ancients. The skin-painted chief, the fame of whose warlike deeds ceased with the last vibrations of the bardic harp,* presents his image in the Friendly Islands of the Pacific Ocean, and among the varied ornaments which adorn the punctured skins of the inhabitants of those climate-favored shores, we recognize the chevron or zig zag,t that favorite British ornament so prominent in Egyptian remains, and * The Britons, as well as the Gauls, had a class of Druids called Bards, who sung the brave exploits of illustrious men, in metre to their Harps. To these Lucan addresses himself ; " Vos quoque qui fortes animas, belloque peremptas, Laudibus in longum vates dimittitis aevum, Plurima, securi fudistis carmina Bardi." — Lucan. In the Northern Countries the Poets were called Scaldi or Scaldri, and we read in a poem of rich and glowing description, and in true keeping as to the manners of the time in which the plot is laid ; , « The Harp of Fame Is tuned in concert to the lofty voice Of venerable and time-honour'd Scald, Chaunting the wild and legendary lay Of ancient warrior kings." — Pennie's Rogvald, p. 1 . •f* This ornament, so decided in its character and so general in its use, is frequently observed in hieroglyphics. Its prototype appears to have been water, and probably related to some particular ceremoDv subsequently forming a distinguished Saxon feature, and which is now carefully preserved in our Heraldic bearings. The tumuli, flint arrow heads, and celts of the Ancient Britons, have their counterpart in the Western Hemi- sphere, and indicate the remains of a former race who inhabited America; the modes of worship appear to have been of the same stamp, since cromlechs are found in the East as well as in Britain, and according to a passage quoted by King in his Munimenta Antiqua, a Syrian Altar still remains upon Trans-Atlantic ground. These extraordinary coinciding points, together with the further evidence of languages and dialects, afford ample food to the enthusiastic theorist ; and being older than History, are obscure and inexplicable ; they give a free untethered flight to the imagination, in bold impunity of being contradicted; but to the more cautious investigator, who uses facts for ballast ere he ventures out to navigate a sea of troubles, and encounter arguments which clash so strangely, these points by no means smooth the course he has to steer. The earliest accounts we have of this country are of so performed by the priests, approaching to the nature of a libation, and when placed on a funeral Urn, might be indicative, that it contained the ashes of a sacrificing minister of the mystic rites. Dr. Clarke observes that the zig zag moulding is purely Etruscan, and occurs on ancient Greek Vases, as well as on British Pottery, late a date, that when compared with the records of other nations, we may consider them as Modern History. Until the invasion of Csesar, we are totally ignorant of the customs of the inhabitants, whose courage, military tactics,* and whose numbers, could for a time withstand and harass the bold impetuous progress of the Roman Eagle, The fierce spirit of the Ancient Briton, galled by the yoke of conquest, would naturally forbid the amicable communication which might tend to throw a light upon his previous history; the harp of the bard, recounting deeds of valor, and tuning its wild notes to the praise of unconquered chieftains, animated the martial spirit, and increased their animosity against the invader. The Soothsayers, as they marked the trickling course of human blood upon the sloping cromlech, invoked in all their wild and imposing gore-drenched ceremonies, the vengeance of their gods upon their foes ; and the minds of the Britons became fixed in jealousy and hatred, while the war-exciting and despotic Druids, proudly abhorring tlieir power-wresting foe, fought, pro arts et focls, with all the rage and fury of despair, till forced from their ground and driven from their altars, they retreated into Wales. * The British mode of lighting in chariots, is well described by Caesar, — Lib. iv. p. 33. Thus, as their tenets of religion and philosophy, as well as their legends, were committed only to the memory of initiated youths, the traditional narratives of the earliest days faded as the Briton fled. Here conquered pride and unconquerable hate, dropped the dark curtain on the Druid's lore and severed the link of information as to the manners, customs, and origin of a most extraordinary race of people.* Thus, in the absence of History, the spade becomes no mean historian ; a close similarity exists in the respect paid * The observations of men of science on the Indian customs, have produced arguments to prove that Druidism came from Oriental Climates. Vide Maurice's India. A paper was read at a meeting of the Asiatic Society at Chouring- hee, September 2 1st, 1825, in which it appears that a sect, the Go^ or Gardeners of Nepaul, follow religious teachers and a form of worship peculiar to themselves. Once in twelve years, it is said, the Zajah offers a solemn sacrifice of various living animals in pairs, and two men, the skulls of the latter being used as drinking cups at the shrine. The immolation of human victims is a point which admits of some doubt, but is not entirely rejected, the man who gave the information being one of the sect and having declared he had assisted in the ceremonies ; while others, probably from interested motives, were less candid, and denied the human sacrifice, rendering it questionable for the time. The offerings tenned Bali or Mahabali make part of the ceremcny, and these very commonly imply the sacrifice of human life^ The Asiatic Journal, April 1826, pp. 509-510. 8 during all ages to the dead, and barrows maybe con- sidered as excellent beacons to throw a gleam of light upon the more prominent features of those manners, customs, and rites, which are so obscured by the dark mists of intervening centuries. The numerous tumuli near Sardes,* among which we may reckon the vast Barrow of Halyattes,f were formed upon a ridge of land ; and the elevated parts of our downs abound with these venerable tombs, nor can a finer assemblage be viewed than those which break the line of hill, south of Maiden-Castle, near Dorchester, where the British trackway runs for many miles, and where ancient settlements, stone circles, and a cromlech, still mark the former importance of this district ; and as a proof of the * Vide Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor, vol. 1. p. 15. *|- This enormous barrow of Halyattes, who was the father of Craesus, is mentioned by Herodotus, who explains the mode of Its construction : " The foundation or bottom part is of great stones, but the rest of the sepulchre is a tumulus of earth ; its circumference was more than three quarters of a mile." — I explored a small barrow between Studland and Swanage, in the isle of Purbeck, constructed in a similar manner ; and the interment, consisting of the burnt bones of a young person, was placed on a flat stone, protected by another flat one of larger dimensions, laid on and over-hanging the under-one, as if to prevent the water from injuring the remains. This deposit was accompanied by no ornaments or weapons. great antiquity of barrows, Homer mentions the tomb of OEpytus, on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, as an old land- mark.* The contents of our British tumuli afford ground for various conclusions as to the date in which they were erected; and the ornaments found in them, prove an early intercourse to have existed between our rude ancestors and a more polished race; for we find highly-finished ornaments of gold-gilt daggers, amber and jet beads inter- mixed with arrow heads of flint, rude articles of bone, stone celts, &c. thus proving that the Britons had in the earliest times some intercourse with more civilized nations. After the minute researches of Sir R. C. Hoare, it is impossible to throw a clearer light upon the subject of British antiquities ; his arguments are drawn from actual facts ; his opinions as to the habits and customs of the Ancient Britons are forcibly conclusive ; he has so minutely detailed his proceedings, and his artist Mr. P. Crocker, has so elegantly displayed the discoveries, that little more * A barrow is situated on the summit of Hamboro Toote, or Taut, a very high conical hill over-hanging the sea, west of the camp on Bindon-hill, and in it was a skeleton with the knees gathered up to the head, which is considered as the earliest mode of burial amongst the Britons. HutchiiCs Dorset f new edit. \,p. 123. 10 can be advanced upon the subject ; while his name will be for ever dear to every man of science or regarder of his country's relics.* It is in contemplating these lasting, yet simple monu- ments of former men, that the mind is hurried back to the older days, and it is with feelings of veneration that we behold the tombs of the mighty dead crown our hills, amid the desolation of years ; while on the other hand we reflect, that the proud temples of Balbec, Palmyra, and Persepolis, have yielded to the wreck of time. The chief whose ashes lay beneath the mound,t sleeps through the night of time ; his tomb is far from the track of man ; the green grass grows and withers, as an emblem of human fate, upon his lonely barrow top, while the passing breeze, " Sweetly rehearsing " The hymn of its eternal pilgrimage, ** Chaunts in Nature's melody his constant funeral dirge." On a spot so hallowed by the wing of Time, the imagi- nation may vividly depict the rude but solemn rites attendant on the burial; the blazing pile flinging its lurid * See Sir R. C. Hoare's History of Ancient Wilts, folio. -f Barrows may be more properly attributed to particular clans, which resided on the downs. Sir R. C. Hoare's *' Ancient Wilts." 11 beams around, gave notice to the distant tribes of the sad oflSce then performing, while the relentless and officiating priest, plunging his steel into the breasts of those unhappy favourites* who were doomed to share their master's death, calmly viewed their convulsive agonies ; while the mystic song of bards, narrating the exploits of him for whom the fire blazed, the frantic yells and mystic dance of the skin- clad Celts, drowned in an universal clamour, the wild and piercing shrieks of expiring victims : then were the trophies solemnly deposited, then was raised the mound, and then was performed the mystic ceremony of going thrice around the tomb,t amidst invocations on the name of the deceased.^ The harp has ceased, the fire-pile has blazed, the tribes have retired from the grave, and left the rude mound to its future solitude, save when a passing traveller should throw * Funera sunt, pro cultu gallorum, magnifica et sumptuosa, omnia quae vivis cordi fuisse arbitrantur in ignem inferunt, etiam animalia, ac paullo supra banc memoriam servi et cUentes quos ab iis dilectos esse constabat justis funeribus confectis un^ cremabantur. Cesar de Bell. Gall. Liber vi. 19. t Alexander, as the ancient custom was, ran naked round the tomb of Patroclus. X The custom of invoking the dead still remains among the Laplanders, and is followed by several of the American tribes. 12 the stone of respect* upon the heap which is to last for future days. The Celtic mound, rude and simple in its construction, remains perfect, while the more modern and most elaborate works of art, yielding to the hand of Time, strew the de- solated site of splendour with fragments which seem to mock the vanity of man. The universal system of burial in barrows which is oi such remote antiquity, and which has been adopted by all nations in the earliest state of society, tends to elucidate the manners and customs of those who inhabited Britain before the page of history had extended to these latitudes ; and the contents of these barrows throw the only light we can depend upon, for the scanty history of our ancient Britons. The Tartar tumuli, which are extremely ancient, contain various ornaments, &c. &c. and in one, explored by order of the Russian Government, were discovered a warrior and a female, the former attended by his horse, the latter deco- rated with bracelets and various ornaments ; and both the skeletons were covered with and reposed on sheets of gold. The tumuli of this country prove similar customs to have * A Welch proverb of the present day, when speaking of a worthless fellow, says, ** Not a person will carry a stone to throw upon his Carnedd" or Grave. 13 existed among its former inhabitants ; for which we have, independent of our own researches, the strong authority of Caesar. ** Omnia quae vivis cordi fuisse Arbitrantur, in ignem inferunt." Banished, however, as this custom has been for centuries from Britain, we find that the Choctaws within the last ten or fifteen years, generally killed the favourite horses or dogs of the deceased, and buried them with his gun or hatchet in the grave ; * while to this day the Laplanders give their dead a hatchet and a tinder-box, and if a female, a needle- case, thread, &c. &c. During my pursuits on the interesting subject of these ancient sepulchres, I explored the tumulus of Deverel, and as it is a barrow totally different in its construction to any yet discovered, it has become the subject of a memoir, in which will be given a plain unvarnished narrative of the various interments it contained; leaving my readers to form their own opinions, and confining myself to narrative, not indulging in conjecture. * Hodson's Letters from America, ii. 416, 460. 14 THE DEVEREL BARROW. A small tract of ground presents itself to the traveller midway between Whitechurch and Milbourne St. Andrew, two villages on the great western road which runs through Dorsetshire, the latter being eight miles east of Dor- chester, the former five miles west of Blandford. This elevated down affords an extensive view. The eye rests upon the distant range of chalk hills which forms so important a barrier to the singularly interesting island of Purbeck ; and this extensive line of chalk, protecting a wide plain from the south-western gales, reaches from Studland Bay to Bin don, and is a ridge well worthy of the antiquary*s notice. In Studland Bay, we find the curious relic called the Agglestone, an immense iron sand stone, weighing according to the computation of Guarriers, about four hundred tons ; it is on the summit of a large barrow, at the base of which is a morass, except on the western side whence is the approach, which is on a tongue of land, and protected by an earthwork. This stone of sacrifice, if such it had ever been, by sloping to the westward? presents a full view of its surface, so that the ceremonies there performed might be seen by an immense population on the surrounding land. It is narrow at its base and 15 top, and by over-hanging, appears to balance this huge rock, giving the idea expressed by King in his Munimenta Antiqua, that it was an unfinished rocking stone. At a short distance north-west from this Agglestone, is a mound of earth, on the top of which appear from beneath the soil, large fragments of stone which are of considerable size ; and owing to their locality as relating to the Aggie- stone, are worthy of a closer examination than I had an opportunity to make. The range of chalk is immediately to the southward of the Agglestone, and abuts boldly into the sea, giving a fine specimen of vertical strata to the geologist. On its ridge, or to use a more common term, on the swine's back, is a cluster of tumuli which give to that spot the name of Nine Barrow Down. One of these I explored, but it contained only the burnt ashes of a young person. Proceeding westward, the ridge abounds with earthworks, tumuli, &c. and after leading into Flower's Barrow, a fine earthen-work, it ceases abruptly at Ariskmill, and then again rises to a considerable height, bearing on its summit the remains of a former city, unnoticed by any historian, but of most peculiar character, being an immense tract of ground formerly enclosed by stone walls of enormous thickness, measuring on the average from fifteen to eighteen feet. It is a parallel- logram in shape, and its entrance is flanked by two walls, while the bases of the towers, between which stood tha 16 gate, are perfectly distinct. These hill camps prove the former importance of this district, and the numerous adjoining barrows bespeak its population to have been considerable. But to return to Deverel Down from whence we have made so great a digression ; it is from that spot that many hill camps are in sight, namely Badbury to the S. E, the fine station of Woodbury to the south, Flower's Barrow and the walled Bindon on the chalk hill to the south, and Milbourne Rings to the S. W. the probable station of the Romans between Venta Geladia* or Vindogladia and Durnovaria (Dorchester). ,. This very singular baiTOw is situated on a sloping piece of down, to the north of the great western road, from which it is very distinguishable ; and there are other barrows on the same hill. The tumulus now under description, was uneven and broken on the summit, as if some previous explorer had examined its contents, which circumstance would justify * Sir Richard Hoare has fixed this station on Gussage Cow Down, near Woodyates inn, where there are very fine British and Roman renihins ; and on referring to the ancient itineraries, it is very evident that one station has been omitted between Vindogladia and Durnovaria, and, very probably, this intermediate station was at Milbourne Rings, situated near the Roman road, where there is an earth-work resembling in form the Roman camps. IT the opinion of its having been re-opened at various periods, for the different deposits which it concealed. The base diameter of this tumulus was fifty-four feet, its height about twelve feet ; nor can I better express its shape than by the term of a mutilated bowl barrow. On the eastern side is a low earthen bank, running west, on a line with the centre of the barrow until within a few feet of it, when it takes a sufficient southerly course to admit of avoiding the mound at the same distance as before, and then strikes off again to the westward where we lose it. It is about a foot high, forming a sort of step to the plateau, on which in fact the barrow stood ; nor is it un- worthy of notice that this earth-work in running south is at right angles with the lines pointing west. As there is a declivity in the ground on the southern side, it would appear that this earth-work was raised around the tumulus, in order that the surrounding spectators might view from all sides the solemn rites attendant on the burial. Having at various times found dceletons laying east and west, I opened a tumulus, commencing near the extreme edge, and forming a section about six feet wide, making a passage to the centre, where the primitive deposit is mostly to be found ; and instances have occurred where I have discovered urns in the section near the edge, not upon natural soil, but near th© surface, which, indicating 18 them to have been of a subsequent date to the original deposit, may prove the respect paid to soil which covers the human remains ; and as these tombs were in many instances resorted to on certain festivals by the Druids when they kindled their holy fires, they became like our church-yards, sacred by the interments and solemn reli- gious ceremonies. On opening this extraordinary barrow on the northern side, every spadeful of earth presented a mixture of pottery, charcoal, and flints, indicating the action of fire. The regularity which generally marks the construction of these venerable tombs, and which guides in some degree the explorer in his search, was in this case wanting. This heterogeneous assemblage of fragments strengthened my first conclusion, that this barrow had been already explored. While I was considering whether to proceed or desist, spemque metumque inter duhiis, I perceived the quantity of this confused mixture to diminish, and a bed of flints pre- sented themselves very closely arranged, so that no dirt or earth could get between them. This induced me to proceed ; I found, however, that they extended no depth towards the centre, and still less towards the east, the chief part appearing in the western part of the tumulus, and it was in that direction the search was continued. After proceeding about four feet westward, three urns presented themselves 19 which had been placed with their mouths upward, and carefully protected by the surrounding flints. They were unburnt, unornamented, of a very coarse and black material, and cylindrically shaped. Two nearly of a size were side by side, and immediately behind them towards the west, stood a much larger and higher one, all three touching each other. Unfortunately neither of these relics could be pre- served, although the greatest care was used in endeavour- ing to extract them ; two of them were crushed by the falling of the super-incumbent flints, and the third was so consumed by time and damp, that it fell or rather crumbled into pieces on removal. I now commenced a section on the southern side, and found it to be composed of loose chalk and stones. Proceeding towards the centre, the spade suddenly struck upon a stone of large dimensions, and of a dif- ferent nature from those of the neighbourhood. Here was indeed an anxious moment, such as can only be imagined by those who have ever felt any interest in exploring barrows. The earth was carefully removed from the top, and my astonishment was still greater when on widening the section, the ends of other stones on each side presented themselves. My labourers were so over- come with joy at the idea of perhaps finding stores of treasure concealed here, that it was with diflQculty I could 20 make them observe the caution requisite in patiently removing the earth, where every square inch, at such a time, if not minutely examined, might have contained a hidden relic ; and if rudely struck, might have presented only the fragments of a vase which might otherwise have been extracted perfect. Having patiently and carefully removed the earth, I raised with some difficulty the stone marked No. 15, and beneath it I found an urn, (vide Plate V. No. 15,) deposited in a cist made in the natural bed of chalk. It contained a quantity of human ashes, intermixed with charcoal, and was unattended by any ornament or weapon ; and it is worthy of remark, that among the numerous interments of this barrow, I could not observe any trinket, implement, or metal ; than which, no better proof can be adduced of its high antiquity, for Sir R. C. Hoare observes, that the barrows in which no metal is found, are undoubtedly the most ancient, and that they contain no costly ornament of jet, amber, or gold, but only vessels of the coarsest pottery, I proceeded next to the stone No. 16, and removed the earth, when to my still greater astonishment, I perceived the ends of other stones appearing through the side of the section. In raising this stone, my labourers in- serted a crow-bar under it; and the end being forced into the cist, the urn was unfortunately destroyed. Its frag- 21 ments, however, indicated it to have been extremely rude and unornamented. The discovery of these urns, which perfectly satisfied me, although it greatly disappointed my workmen, led me to conclude that each stone covered a cist ; and in my subsequent proceedings, in order to avoid similar accidents, I removed the bed of native chalk, until parallel with the cist; and then by striking a passage through, I was enabled to extract the urn, without dis- placing the stones, which for so many ages had remained undisturbed. The stone marked No. 23, is the largest of the assem- blage. It is rough and irregular, sloping towards the west, not dissimilar to a ram's head in shape. It measures four feet from east to west, and three feet across. The height of the eastern side is three feet and a half, and on the western twenty inches. It rests upon a base of little more than two feet, and leaving the ground, rises ta meet the sloping side to the westward, which, commencing only from the centre, leaves a rough but more tabular appearance on the surface. Beneath this stone, and likewise beneath the conical stone No. 1 , no urn was placed ; but on carefully examin- ing the surrounding soil at the bases of these stones, I discovered the teeth of some graminivorous animal^ apparently of a sheep or deer. The bearings of these stones are N. W. and S. E. and this singular positions with regard to the rising and the setting sun, together with the circumstances of their greater size, the teeth of animals, and no urns being beneath them, have induced me to consider them as altars, where, in all probability, victims were offered to the manes of the deceased. A tumulus thus constructed with its cists, their protecting stones, together with its altars, is cer- tainly novel; and although it may give birth to many conjectures relative to the race by whom it was con- structed, whose modes of interment differed with their neighbours, yet such was the terrifying effect of super- stition in those days, so great was the respect at all times paid to the ashes of the departed, that these two causes must have rendered this tumulus doubly venerated by those who existed in the day of its splendour. The various forms, ornaments, and materials of the urns, indicate advancement from a rude to a more civilized state ; and the various modes of interment in this barrow, mark a series of years to have elapsed, which will even allow for the improvement of their potteries. Here every method of interment had been followed, after cremation had been used ; and although each corpse had been consumed by fire, the ashes were variously deposited. I found seventeen urns in cists, under large stones ; four urns on the natural soil, enclosed in a rude kind of arch, composed of flints, making twenty-one burials in urns. In the interior of the semi- fi3 circle, of which the stones 2 and 1 are the extremes, I found five cists, which having been cut in the chalk, con- tained burnt human bones, without any urn or protecting stone; and in four instances, were discovered the bones collected in a heap with charcoal, and laid on the floor of the barrow, without even a stone to protect them, making a total of thirty interments. All the urns, except one, vide Plate I, urn 23, were placed with their mouths upward, which appears a custom more prevalent in Dorset than in Wiltshire barrows ; since Sir R. C. Hoare in his introduction to " Ancient Wilts," observes, that the bones when burnt were collected and placed within the urn, which was very frequently de- posited with its mouth downward, within a cist cut in the chalk. So many different modes of interment in one barrow may incline us to suppose that the tumulus had been used at various times, and tliat as customs altered, so we can observe their various modes. Barrows have been explored containing various interments, but the singularity of this barrow consists in the curious assemblage of the stones. They appear to be a species of compact sand-stone, slightly tinged in some instances as if by the ferruginous action of some portion of its composition. These stones are not indigenous, nor can I point out from whence it is likely they have been brought. It is not my intention to 24 involve myself in a labyrinth of conjecture, only to be refuted by some more plausible theory ; but one fact is evident, that the largest stone. No. 23, must have been moved from its original bed to its present site by the aid of some mechanical purchase, which argues that this tumulus was not hastily constructed ; and that some important rite demanded the labour which was requisite to convey this stone, as well as all those which composed this group. An inexplicable regularity attends the placing of these singular relics. The stones marked Nos. 1 and 23 (vide plate) are the extremes of a diameter ; while Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 19, formed a southern semi- circle. The greater assemblage is confined to the eastern extremity, probably as a mark of distinction or from some religious motive; and the stone marked No. 17, laying detached from the circle to the south, and the one likewise (No. 22) on the north, are in their original positions. Some urns, either for additional security or as a mark of greater distinction, were protected by three stones. One was used as usual in covering the mouth of the cist, and over it were laid two others. Thus the stones 20 and 21, covered a stone, beneath which was the urn No. 20 in Plate I ; and the urn No. 11 in Plate V. was guarded in a similar manner by the stones 10 and 11, placed over a protecting stone of the cist. 25 , On the northern side, and close to the stone No. 18, were placed two small cups. No. 18, Plate VI. very rudely formed, and in one were the bones apparently of a bird, and ip the other a rich black and unctions mould. The general texture of the urns was a coarse kind of clay, with a mixture of small white particles, apparently pounded silex. They have not been submitted to any degree of heat, and appear to have been chiefly baked in the funeral pile ; since in many instances they are scorched, but never to any depth. The various, yet simple ornaments, bespeak no great advancement in the sciences, consisting chiefly of parallel lines with the occasional addition of the chevron, or zig zag, which is a favourite ornament of the Britons, and is much more frequently to be found on their urns and cups than any other. A pointed instrument appears to have been used, and by the irregularity with which the lines are in some instances drawn round the urns, it is evident that they were not turned in a lathe at the time these ornaments being made.* The urn No. 2, in Plate II. and the urn No. 3. in Plate V. are extremely coarse, and were found as they are repre- sented. From the holes which are in their sides, it is to be * Sir R. C. HoARE has in his museum many articles of bone, sharpened at one end, with which these ornaments were irregularly scratched. 26 inferred that they were deposited in that damaged state, and that some ligaments, probably the sinews of some animal, fastened the sides together. This very rude and unique specimen of ancient rivetting, or securing a broken vase, is a proof of the value of such pottery, when these sepulchral honors were performed, and is a strong corrob- oration of their claim to the highest antiquity ; while it is worthy of remark, that the bold, projecting band or hoop round the urn No. 2, is indented with the fleshy part of the thumb, and the two lines of ornament in it there, are made with the human nail. The urn in Plate I, was found near the altar-stone No. 23, not in a cist, but carefully surrounded by a quantity of flints, and in a position diffierent to any other urn in this barrow, namely, inverted* Many of these urns mouldered to the touch, and in some cases I was merely enabled to make a sketch of them in the cists, finding that it would be impossible to remove them entire. The damp had penetrated into the cists, and the preservation of so many of the urns is to be attributed to the black ashes, which thickly surrounded * When the body was reduced to ashes, the fragments were care- fully collected, and placed within the urn in a linen cover, which was fastened by a small brass pin, many of which are to be seen in the collection of Sir R. C. Hoare. them. On bringing these relics again to light, there was a degree of dampness, even in the most perfect, which ren- dered them extremely friable, and as some fell into pieces on attempting to remove them from the tumulus, I learnt by experience that the only way to effectually preserve them was to evaporate the moisture from the pottery and even its contents. In some cases when night was stealing on, and an urn had been but partially discovered, in order to ensure its preservation, I have bivouacked around the fire with my labourers till near midnight ; no pleasant situation on a bleak and elevated Dorset Down in a November night. Men were employed in dragging furze from an adjoin- ing spot, and it was a fine subject for the talent of an artist to have described the venerable urn, smoking at the flame, while a red and flickering gleam played upon the coun^ tenances of the labourers, who stood around the fire, speaking in low and smothered tones, allowing their fears to work upon their imaginations, — their eyes fixed upon the flame and dead men's bones, — were afraid to look into the surrounding darkness. The swell of the passing breeze as it fanned the fire, raised them from their reverie, or roused their attention from some direful story of goblin damned, which was gravely related and as faithfully believed. The effect produced by the narrative of the village thatcher added most strongly to the horror of their 28 situation, as he gravely declared that his father and his «lder brother had been most cruelly dragged about and beaten by some invisible hand, on the very down on which we stood. There was no danger of a deserter from my party, as fear kept them together; and our group was augmented by the curiosity of the passing peasants, who deviating from the homeward course, wondered why a fire blazed upon the unfrequented down ; a spot on which it is more than probable no fire had ever gleamed since the last deposit was pompously and religiously placed in the barrow just explored, save at the May-eve rites. But now, how changed the scene ! The urn, when last it was seen by man, so hallowed, so venerated — the form, the features of the chief, whose ashes it contained, fresh to the minds and perhaps dear to the memories of those who assisted at the sepulchral ceremonies, — now, after a lapse of many hundreds of years, calmly reeked before a burning faggot, to the rude gaze of an astonished peasant. Such is a correct detail of this very interesting and sin- gular tumulus; so much richer in its contents, and so unlike any other that has ever yet been explored, that it is worthy of being made better known ; more especially, as after a short time of its being opened, the curiosity of idle people, for want of a proper fence, which should have been erected round the tumulus^ displaced the stones from their original 29 situation, and which, at the present time, can only be ascertained by the annexed engraving. This singular barrow is on the estate of E. M. Pleydell, Esq. of Whatcombe-house ; and the visitor who may turn from the London road to this tumulus, which is not above three hundred yards distant to the north, will lament with me on viewing this mutilated relic, that it had been so little appreciated ; but I am happy to say that the urns have been safely deposited in the Museum of the Literary Institution at Bristol, where these curious British relics will be carefully preserved and admired. (Jrockers, Priuteis, Frwme. iPJLATIi 'L A^e^r (Tft^ Akitr. N°23. N? 20. 2'uSlisAed ycr W-A-Afiles. iS-i6.. ^^4)j %''} %■ i 1 ■■■. •>> ,_, f \ ' A 1^ ^■ft m '^^■ J^ ^■^'*t I ^-x' ■**■-. ^^-.'^^ ») * €■ V-t* t, 4*^ I:-.' 'jPJLATjE lilo N°2. '^^■^i^' N° 4. •i ^/ '. ; '' , I --'■ ■'^mf^***'^-4m*. ^ *' n^TE m. .I„:'y!a.^;>y..jm4r'.' Jiji&s-^aiJ~or W^.Mli&f. J<92£- «•.€, ./,«.». I>,«l.il« C < «*« ^nppiiPlPPii i IPILATE ly. T^?9. N?19. WAMz/es, deir J'u^/is/iedjbr W.J.MiZas: iSi^. J,t':Ji,ui/v sai/f>* St."; fc "^ I c. o", c e' c c" e *ooc C^V c, FXATE IV.A.M,!e.<.,M' /„ /i„.f,>y. ..cui^f J'ui/j.v/ied T-w- // V/ Mi/es.jdi6~. I e «* e •( W^Mi^-r. del' JafJiti*!-'ir>'. jaJfi} Tuii^haijir W-JMOes. iSzfi. i <■ f •• » • > t" c • t ^V'iPPP"V>!^*"'n<'liP7^iP**':'i^ T3H1E I (S®AIL M©HIEX DIES^SIEaiBlEID, mir lUlLM^M^BW^T^^ WKlLim 1^(51 Admass®. ' ' " "^ Ja^Basire. fcuTp. Published forW AMiles.a826. KIMMERIDGE COAL MONEY. On perusing Hutchins' History of Dorsetshire^ my attention and curiosity were strongly excited by his account of the Coal Money found at Kimmeridge ; and having fixed my residence for a few months in the dull and heath-girt Town of Wareham, which is in the vicinity of the coast, I commenced exploring the ground where these curious relics had been found, in hopes of discovering some remains connected with them which might remove the obscurity in which they were involved ; and as I am not aware of the Coal Money being mentioned by any author but Hutchins, I give the extract from his County History in his own words; — " Near Smedmore is found what the country people call " Coal Money. It is generally discovered in the top of " the cliffs, two or three feet below the surface, enclosed *' between two stones set edgeways, and covered with a " third, like kistvaens, and mingled with a few bones of " some animal. Sometimes many of them are found in " the adjoining grounds, near the surface ; and it is 33 ^* observable, that where they lie, seems to be made-ground ; " they are of a round form, from one to two or three inches " and a half in diameter, and a quarter of an inch thick ; " one side is flat, the other convex, on which are several " mouldings ; on the flat side are two, sometimes four, " small round holes near the rim, (perhaps the centre holes, " by which they were fixed to the turning press,) but they " do not penetrate through the piece. Antiquaries con- *' elude them to be British Antiquities, but whether amu- " lets or money, is not agreed ; the amulets described by " Camden and Stukeley, differ from these in form and " materials. " It may be observed that Coal is the cant word for ** money, whence, " down with your coal " is a common " expression in some countries, for ^^ pay your money ^ ^' There was lately found near the shore, a bowl made of " Kimmeridge coal, about six inches in diameter, but " shallow, and six inches high ; in it were several pieces " of the Coal Money." V Hutchins* Dorset, vol. 1, p. 197. Unable to obtain any satisfactory information upon this interesting subject, from those resident in the neighbour- hood, and being informed that the Coal Money had only been casually found in various places along the shores, I made diligent enquiry among the labouring classes, and ^purchased what pieces they possessed* 34 A person from the Bay of Worthlarrow, having brought me some specimens which had been lately dug up, informed me that a large portion of an urn had been discovered near them, but was unfortunately destroyed. This was the first positive information I had received, and as it was my earnest endeavour to ascertain thoroughly the particular attendants on this curious deposit, I imme- diately took a chaise and repaired for a week to the Bay of Worthharrow, in order to prosecute my researches. Having traversed the heath-land which lies between the Grange Estate and Wareham, the road ascends the side of a steep hill, and taking a western direction, pursues its course along the summit of an elevated ridge of land which extends from the eastern to the western extremity of the Isle of Purbeck, To "the south of this ridge-way. is a rich and well-cultivated vale, protected from the sea by a stupendous chain of high land, whose southern sides presenting their vast cliffs as at St. Aldhelm's Head, form* a mural defence against the ever-toiling wave, and whose appearances are so well known to the cautious mariner. * This range of cliffs terminates to the westward in a bold and romantic promontory; the vale here ending is* contracted by the proximity of the high lands on either side, and forms the Bay of Worthharrow. The situation of this bay is worthy of remark, being guarded on its northern side by an extensive hill-camp, 'called Flower's or Florus Barrow, which stands on the summit of the hill ; and at a short distance to the west- ward are the extensive remains of some very ancient structure, whose stone-built walls and circular towers are yet visible upon the land which overhangs the Bay of Lulworth.* The promontory on the southern side of the bay break- ing the fury of the wave, is also a very singular and curious subject for the observation and notice of the antiquary. The range of hill which runs along the southern coast suddenly declines nearly to the level of the sea, but immediately ascends at an angle which is upwards of thirty-five degrees, and abutting boldly into the sea, ter- minates in a cliff whose height is about two hundred feet. At the commencement of the ascent, an earth-work runs nearly across the narrow neck of this promontory, leaving a space for entrance on the southern side about eight feet wide, the mound on one side and a precipice on the other. About half way up the ascent another earth-work appears for a further protection, and on the summit is a flattened space enclosed by a slight earth-work. At the base of the cliflf lies an immense circular block of stone, two feet in * HuTCHiNs, in his History, says that these are the ruins of the Jint site of Biudon Abbey. 36 thickness, and seven in diameter, whose sides have been worked into mouldings, and may be described as an enormous specimen of Coal Money, being shaped similarly to some of the pieces in my possession. This relic is worthy of a closer investigation, and if I may venture a conjecture, I should deem it an altar-stone used in all probability by that race to whom the Coal Money may be attributed; especially as we are informed that a stone of similar features, was used for sacrificial purposes, and is now preserved in the Cathedral of Mexico. My guide conducted me to the edge of the cliflf; and centrically situated between the promontory and the camp, was the spot where the Coal Money had been dis- covered, for having descended a few cautious steps down the side of the cliff, I found the soil for about two feet deep to be composed of a rich black mould, intermixed with some animal remains, a few marine shells, and several fragments of pottery, together with large rounded stones as if worn by the action of the sea. The pottery I found at first was of a peculiar but of no decisive cha- racter. Its texture was different to other specimens of ancient pottery which I had ever observed, being harder, blacker, and finer. On a further search I dug up a piece of red pottery, highly glazed, extremely compact, and finer than the generality of Roman specimens^ and equal to any 37 ware of the present age.* This discovery involved the Coal Money in a still greater mystery, and my astonish- ment could only be equalled by the desire of continuing my researches. It is evident that the Coal Money had been turned in a lathe, the mouldings and ornaments have been formed with great neatness and precision; and no greater proof of the indestructibility of the material of which they are formed can be adduced than the sharpness of the fine edges to which the Coal Money had in many instances been reduced. I likewise found among this curious assemblage of substances, a piece of Kimmeridge Coal or Slate, on which were traced with mathematical exactness, circles and various angles (see plate). The centres of the circles are evident as if the point of the compass had indented the material. In several instances I observed the bones of birds to be intermixed with these curious relics ; and in no instance have I ever found the Coal Money to be concealed under stones as described by Hutchins. The fishermen who inhabit this bay, informed me, that some years ago, the Coal Money was more abundant. * This species of fine red glazed pottery has been distinguished by the name of Samian, and fragments are found in all the Romanized ^gttlemeuts of the Britons, .TafJ^a^fre. siti/pf Jii^lis^ied for W.A.Mc/es. jS2^. ^# f t i • t rtfiiVifiryiiigiiiiytiiiiiii'iiitii'iirv iilliiliilrri'liiiii ' ' liif "• 38 and several large pieces had been found, on which they aflBrmed some kind of character was visible. I mention this circumstance as relating to the Coal Money, and although sceptically inclined, cannot but consider that formerly a species of these relics had been found differing from what are now discovered, since many persons un- connected with each other, have persisted in a similar account ; and it is to be regretted that these specimens had not been preserved by some person in the neighbourhood. The sea, however, makes rapid encroachments on this cliff, and during the memory of man many feet have crumbled into the watery surf. It was after a severe gale that the thigh-bones of a human skeleton projecting from the side of the cliff attracted the attention of some labour- ing men, who, under the idea of wealth, rudely demolished the simple tomb, hurled the bones down the precipice, and discovered the skull resting on an urn, containing Coal Money. The skeleton was lying between two ranges of flat stones, set perpendicularly so as to support other flat ones, which formed a cover, not unlike a present drain or gutter. The urn Was unfortunately destroyed by these men, who were not aware of any gentlemen in their neighbourhood likely to purchase the vase, and the only record of this discovery is the impression it made upon their minds. 39 The specimens of Coal Money which I found in this bay, were not numerous or remarkable, and it was my intention to have proceeded further, but having applied to Mr. J, Bond, of Grange, for permission to open a contiguous barrow, I received a negative. My subsequent researches were made at Kimmeridge Bay ; the Coal Money was there to be found more fre- quently, and the accompanying remains of various sub- stances, give a more decided character to these extraor- dinary and mysterious relics. The Bay of Kimmeridge is of greater extent than that of Worthbarrow, and is bounded semicircularly by the sweep of the southern range of high land which passes through Purbeck. Its cliffs present a dark and gloomy appearance, being entirely composed of a bituminous shale, peculiar to this spot. The Coal Money was deposited in the cliff, about one foot and a half beneath the surface, and the general mass of the soil was similar to that of Worthbarrow, but blacker and richer, the animal bones and other remains, especially pottery, being more frequent. I here obtained various fragments which enabled me to determine the shape of many vases, which were shallo^r and wider at the top than at the base. A number of large stones rounded by the action of water^ form a kind of foundation to this artificial soil or 40 made earth, while the Coal Money occupied the mid depth. The specimens of the money were various, as to ornaments, circumference, thickness, and the number of holes in which some instrument appears to have been inserted, to hold it when in the process of turning. The large pieces have never more than three holes, or if one only, it is a large square in the centre ; the smaller ones having, in rare instances, four and even five holes, although two and three appear to be the usual number. On some pieces when three holes have been used, I observed an isosceles triangle to be marked, and at each angle is a hole. Several fragments of the Kimmeridge material were discovered, and in one instance a piece on which a circle was marked, and a centre point is visible, similar to the circles on the piece before mentioned as having been found at Worthbarrow. These fragments I observe are always more inclined to fall into pieces than the well-turned Coal Money; and from a greasy white matter which adheres to the Coal Money after a long immersion in water, it would appear that their state of preservation arises from some animal or vegetable substance being used on them in fwmer times. In a few instances parts of rings, made of the shale, are to be found ; and they appear to have been not only exqui- sitely turned, but even highly polished. During my various examinations along the edge of the 41 cliffs, I was fortuHate enough to discover a few fragments of red pottery, of which the texture and the finishing glaze and the ornaments are so exquisite, that they appear the perfection of that art ; the richness of the colour has lost nothing by the lapse of years, nor is the workmanship to be surpassed by the finest opaque ware of the present day, (see plate.) Thus, in the absence of positive positions, our general observations can only be deduced from casual discoveries and various analogies. It is, however, evident that the people who inhabited this spot, were acquainted with the method of carving stone, since I found a large portion of a shallow circular patera, not destitute of elegance, and formed of granite. But the most decisive and singular point, which has hitherto come under my actual obser- vation, and which throws a more decided light upon the use of what is vulgarly called Coal Money, is a cist on the edge of the cliff containing a sacrifice. At the depth of a foot and a half from the surface, a pentagonal chamberj four feet by three, and a foot and a half high, was formed by large flat slates of the Kimmeridge material, which has a natural tendency to a laminar division. These slates were perpendicularly placed, sup- porting larger ones, which formed a roof or covering. Within this chamber was a coarse patera of a reddish kind ©f brick earth, intermixed with pieces of white and yellow 43 clay. This rude kind of pottery had undergone but a very partial heat, and was too friable to preserve entire. This patera was resting on large loose stones, its edges were raised two inches round its sides, and in it was deposited the head of a bullock, while the appearance of the roots whence the horns protruded, indicated the animal to have been young. Within this chamber neither Coal Money nor bones were deposited; but around it, on the outside, in every direction, the fragments of pottery. Coal Money, and remains of animal bones were very abundant. I had been in the habit of communicating my dis- coveries to Sir R. C. HoARE, and as Kimmeridge had beea for some time the topic of my correspondence, this chamber or cist, was of such peculiar interest, that on receiving my communication, this distinguished antiquary came purposely from Weymouth, in order to visit the spot in person with me. As my conjectures upon the race who formed the Coal Money were perfectly novel, I left the chamber undisturbed, for the personal inspection of Sir R. C. HoARE, in order that his actual observations might either destroy or confirm the opinions I had formed upon the subject ; and having obtained permission from the proprietor, the Rev. J. Clavell, I proceeded with alacrity to the scene of action. The chamber having been closely examined, the labourers removed the usual black mould, and within the 43 Space of two square feet on the western side of this sin- gular deposit, we were fortunate enough to discover upwards of eighty pieces of the Coal Money, varying not only in their dimensions, but in the number of mouldings round their respective edges as well as holes. Bones of animals and fragments of pottery were as usual intermixed in the black mould; and thus a good opportunity was afforded Sir R. C. Hoare, of observing the peculiarities attendant on these curious and inexplicable remains. My interest being most keenly excited by the discovery of this chamber, and entertaining the greatest hopes of being enabled to discover some positive and decided relic which might direct the judgment with some certainty, I lost no time in procuring a further permission to search about eight or ten feet inwards from the edge. Near this chamber a strong fire must have burnt, as I found a gi\;at quantity of the shale reduced to a red kind of ash. It was here that several pieces of a reddish clay were discovered, which appear to have been taken when in a moistened state, and clenched within the hand, as the marks of the fingers, and in some instances, even the impression of the cutis, are perfectly distinct. At various times I had obseiTed several small flints, of which the sharp edge of the fracture appeared chipped and blunted. At first, I disregarded this point ; but on observ- ing it in various instances, it struck me they had been used 44 in ttirning'the Coal Money, and on mentioning my remarks to the Rev. Mr. Witt, of Stoke, my suspicions were con- firmedj as he informed me that by repeated experiments, he found no steel, however tempered, could retain its edge when opposed to the rapidity of the coal when in the lathe; and that the most convenient method of shaping this material, was by applying the sharp sides of flints, when a fresh fracture would generally present a fresh edge. Thus far had my observations proceeded ; every day tras yielding me fresh points of interest ; every spadeful of earth was confirming my conjectures, and I was in hourly hopes that my labours would be rewarded by some positive proof, which would have given me the proud satisfaction of fixing my conjectures with the stamp of certainty ; and that it would be an uncontrovertible fact relative to our early history, at once novel and interesting, of the Bays of Worthbarrow, Kimmeridge, and their vicinity, having been the sites of some very ancient settlements ; — but, an unexpected notice from the landholder, the Rev. J. Clavell, put a stop to my further pursuits, researches, and conjectures. Having thus detailed all that I was enabled to discover ]?elative to the Coal Money, I trust that the reader by this time may have drawn his conclusions ; and while I timidly advance mine, may the rigid antiquary allow some 45 ground for the exercise of theoiy, in the absence of decisive matter of fact evidence. The admixture of the coarsest British and the finest black and red ware, indicate a polished and a rude race to have been in mutual intercourse. The Roman power having conquered Gaul, had more to dread from the inland incursions of the unconquered islanders, than the invasion of an enemy on the southern coast. The Bay of Kimmeridge is commanded on the north, east, and west, by a sweeping range of lofty hill ; and if the exterminating stream of war had poured down the sides upon the vale, the inhabitants or colonists had no refuge but their vessels. There is no vestige of any defensive works ; and such a position, weak and defence- less, can never be attributed to the wary Roman. It is, however, evident, that a civilized nation once inhabited these shores, for we find fragments of the most ancient pottery abundantly intermixed in a rich black soil ; and I believe that I may aver without contradiction, that articles similar to the Coal Money have never as yet been found in any other parts of our island. As it is evident from remains of pottery, and also from topographical situation, that neither Kimmeridge or Worthbarrow were Roman or British settlements, it becomes a point worthy of investigation, to ascertain, if possible, at this remote period, what nation inhabited 46 these bays, and what inducement could have led them to shores, where nature in her wildest moods presents a chain of inhospitable cliffs. From the defenceless position of those who dwelt in these bays, it is a reasonable conclusion that they were a nautical, but not a belligerent race ; and as navigation is the child of commerce, they must have been a com- mercial colony. It is evident that they were workers of the finest pottery and offerers of sacrifice, since I have found the fine black pottery in abundance, with fragments of the fine red Samian, and likewise the sacrificial deposit of a bullock's head, as previously described. These relics cannot be attributed to either the Danes or the Saxons, and the mystery of the Coal Money bespeaks a far greater antiquity. Thus unable to fix our conclusions upon the Saxons, Danes, Romans, or Britons, and bearing in mind the certain evidences of a polished and mercantile race, it cannot appear an idle hypothesis, to ascribe this site to a Phoenician or Car- thaginian Colony. If it be sceptically advanced in opposition to this opinion, that history is silent upon the subject, and that it has been doubted whether the Phoenician ever traded to these shores, we have to remember tliat the love of gain, the soul of a mercantile character, was here pos- sessed by a whole nation. Money, not posthumous fame. 41 allured the Phoenician, and commerce cramping his ideas from infancy, centred all his views to the time in which he lived ; the darkest superstitions shadowed his intellects, and the mind, absorbed in one common cause, was incapable of the energies requisite to break from the beaten path of custom and example. With the exception of a Terence** (whose mind was developed by a foreigu education), we have no Carthaginian author extant, and the partial history of this once busy people is found but in fragments among the authors of other nations. If however a Punic historian had existed, and no mention had been made of this coi^try, the subject would receive a different light ; but, as a total silence pervades their history, and as foreigners and strangers have alone pre- served the veiy name of the Carthaginian race from oblivion, the chain of information must be cautiously joined by analogies and conclusions. * I may include in this exception, the treatise drawn up in the Punic tongue by Hanno, 443. A. C. relating to a voyage he made with a considerable fleet round Africa, for the settling of different colonies in that part of the world. A Greek version of this treatise is $till extant. Rollins' Anc. Hist. 6. ii. sect. 7. Pliny, lib. 2. c. 67. Antonio Galvano on the discoveries of the world. Haklyx's coliectiou of travels, vol. iv. p. 4p6» 48 Time, as it proceeds, distorts history, events, arid personages ; a strong feeling of superstition, natural to the mind of man, exaggerates circumstances as his fears or fancy dictate. A plain event becomes intermixed with fable, a hero is magnified into a giant, a giant to a God. Thus, the Phoenician trader lives in Cornish legend and in the Welsh triads, under the figure of a " red and bony giant," Ruddlwn Gawr, His doctrines were promulgated by a British hero of great fame, and it is decidedly evident that a novel system, and some new deity was introduced by strangers, which caused some feelings of dislike. It may be asked, what inducements led the Phoenician to Kimmeridge, where no mines existed ? Strabo relates that in exchange for skins, tin, and other objects of traffic, the Phcenicians gave pottery, &c. &c. Now since a district of clay is in the isle of Purbeck, it is more probable that the foreign trader availed himself of this clay, and as if nature assisted his pursuits, he had only to bring this clay to Kimmeridge, where there are enormous cliffs, composed of a coal which would burn the vases ; and thus, in lieu of sailing from their native ports loaded with exported potteries, they found clay and coal contiguous in Purbeck, and there established a manufactory. Those who formed the Coal Money, were aware of 49 the bituminous qualities of the Kimmeridge coal, since they burnt it, as I have frequently noticed its ashes during my researches, and in some instances I have found indications of its having been subjected to intense heat. In further corroboration of the Phoenician having availed himself of the clay, the Coal Money and pottery similar to what is found at Kimmeridge, has been dis- covered in two instances in the clay district ; and I have found fragments of clay at Kimmeridge intermixed and connected with the Coal Money. These points prove a connecting link between the clay and the coal districts, and tending to support my conjectures, will rescue them from the imputation of being idle or visionary. Relative to the original use of these mysterious manu- factured articles, I cannot consider them to have been used as a circulating currency, nor as charms or amulets, nor as ornaments ; but as representatives of coin, and of some mystical use in sacrificial or sepulchral rites. We find that statues to the honour of Hercules abounded among the ancients, and that the greatest respect was paid to his altar. He was the presiding deity over travellers and mer- chants, and sacrifices as well as feasts were offered at his altars. Propter viam fit sacrificium proficisceudi gratia.— ^JFesf. 50 He was not only worshipped by the classic nations, but also by the Tyrians, who offered to this deity, the tithe of the spoils taken from the enemy : and Hannibal, before he left Spain and marched against Rome, went as far as Cadiz in order to pay the vows which he had made to Hercules, and to offer up new ones in case that God should be propitious. — Rollings Ancient History, b. ii. sect. 2. Caesar, moreover, mentions that Mercury, whose attri- butes answer to those of Hercules, was the principal god of the Britons ;* and we may infer them to be the same deity, since Mercury is sometimes coupled with Hercules. It is clear that Hercules was a principal deity among the Tyrians, and that silver was offered to him. It is not probable that a Phoenician merchant would export bullion from his own country to trade with a race who trafficked but in barter. To obviate this want of the precious metal, and in lieu of drachms of silver, the superstitious Phoenician would avail himself of that material which might be made to resemble a coin, and as it was owing to this Coal that they were enabled to form their vases, which, by barter, became so profitable, they considered, in all probabily, that * Deum maxim^ mercurium colunt. Hujus sunt plurima simulacra. Hunc, omnium inventorem artium ferunt ; hunc viarum atque itinerum ducem. Hunc ad qusestus pecunioe, mercaturasque habere vim maximam aibitrantur. «1 as the Coal was the source of their prosperity, their deity would be equally propitious, if pieces of it formed in imita- tion of a coin, were to be oifered to him in their sacrifices. Thus far I consider it possible that these extraordinary and mysterious relics might have been the representatives of coinage, when in reference to the usual custom of offering money at the altars of their God ; but never to have been used as a general currency ^ since in that case it would not be invariably found with animal remains, nor would it be so extremely local. Independent of which, its great tendency to destructability and of shivering laminally, would be a bar to its ever having been a coinage intended to pass from hand to hand. Having lately heard that a skeleton had been dug up at Kimmeridge, I repaired to the spot and made a few obser- vations, which may be of some interest, although I had not an opportunity of finishing my task. Near the edge of the cliff, about a mile westward from the spot where I had found the Coal Money, stands a gradual elevation involving a considerable area in its swell. On examining this mound, a small portion having been removed by the occupier, I found it to be a confused and enormous mass of pottery, ashes, bones, shells, &c. and it was here that a skeleton was found, five feet from the surface, buried in a similar manner to the body found ^t Worthbarrow cliff, between flag stones set edgeways^ 5% supporting incumbent ones. Near this body were found a large deer horn and an iron implement. On proceeding in this barrow, I found a cist at the depth of twelve feet from the surface, situated on a bed of ashes, and enclosed by a wall on its northern and its southern side. The stones were placed in a quantity of clay, and in this cist I found only ashes and snail shells. A large flag-stone formed the bottom, and a flag-stone partly covered it. Beneath this cist, the ashes still continued, but no snail shells: above this cist, were laid some human remains, the skull of the subject shewing it to be of a young person. Near this deposit I found a piece of Coal Money, with one square hole right through it. On removing the floor of clay, which ran westward of the cist, about eighteen inches thick, I found beneath it another cist, formed of slabs of the Kimmeridge slate ; it was a parallellogram, but contained only coal ashes. From its N.W. angle, ran a division slab in the direction of N. E. and to the northward of it I observed the soil to be coal-ashes, burnt to a perfect red colour by intense heat. I opened a shaft in the centre of this mound, and strange to say, although I proceeded to the depth of between twenty and thirty feet, I was not able to reach the natural soil, and the last stratum I observed was a bed of sea-sand. In this shaft I came to a large wall, about three feet thick, running in the direction of N. E. to S. W. and from it ran 53 divisional slabs. At the depth of twenty feet I found a piece of Coal Money, with one hole in it ; and during the whole course of my work, fragments of pottery were thrown out. Some of the specimens were rude to a degree, and I distinctly saw small marine shells in their composition, which plainly proves that they were not subjected to any violent degree of heat. I likewise found many teeth of animals, scoria, and an ornament with an oblique perforation through it, of a species of pottery, light to a degree. Thus far have I been enabled to lay before my readers the result of my researches, which I have made under very many disadvantages and domestic annoyances. I shall think myself fortunate if my humble endeavours may call forth this mysterious relic to the investigation of the learned ; and proud shall I feel if ray researches and publication should meet with their approbation. FINIS. 988993 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY V - . , .; ■ • .'Kir KIMMERIBGE < OAT. MON£>.