THE KIMHERIDOE COAL MONET. 91 



At T3nieham, which is about a mile distant inland from Wor- 

 barrow bay, it is very common, and usrially associated with 

 pottery. In the month of April of the present year, in company 

 with the Rev. N. Bond, I assisted in examining a portion of a 

 field called Egliston mead. The labourer informed us that it ex- 

 tended over only a limited space of about an acre; probably the 

 area occupied by the manufactory. Every spit of earth brought 

 up by the spade, contained two or three pieces beautifully per- 

 fect. That they must have been embedded very shortly after 

 being cast from the lathe appeared evident from the sharpness of 

 their edges. In their deposition there was no appearance of de- 

 sign, they were scattered in the black earth, thus aiFording proof 

 in favour of the belief that th6y were refuse. We found only a 

 few small pieces of pottery, and a portion of an armlet. It is 

 worthy of remark that the specimens found at this spot were, 

 without exception, of one variety, (pi. 6, fig 1.) 



At Povington they occur under precisely the same circum- 

 stances as at Tyneham, with the addition of a considerable 

 quantity of coal chippings, and frequent pieces of broken armlets. 

 I conceive the spot examined in my presence, to have been near 

 to that at which the lathe was fixed. The Coal Money obtained 

 was of greater variety, there being as many as five kinds. 



I must now endeavour to meet and reply to the universal 

 question, Wliat is the 'Coal Money'? what was its origin? 

 what was its use ? The varied theories which have been ad- 

 vanced by some antiquaries are imsatisfactory, whilst those who 

 are better acquainted with the use of the lathe, have determined 

 that they are simply the refuse pieces of the turner, the nuclei 

 of rings and armillae formed by his art, in which indeed he must 

 have been far advanced, so beautifully are they manipulated. 



The circumstance of the central portion, or what is called the 

 * Money', being found in such large quantities, and in so many 

 different places, whilst the outer portion or the ring, has been 

 found in no instance in a whole and unbroken state, amongst any 

 of these remains, is, it appears, strong evidence that these rings 



It is worthy of remark, that the Shale does not exist in situ in 

 Worbarrow bay, and consequently must have been conveyed, if not by 

 water, over the hills, to Tyneham and Povington. If the latter, it in- 

 volves the necessity for a road. 



