46 ON THE TUMULI OF ST. ADHELM'S HEAD DISTRICT. 



Saxon invasion. Towards the solving the question, " who were 

 the occupants of these Kistvaens ?" the following points present 

 themselves to our notice. First ; they lay with their feet towards 

 the east, as is usual in our times. Second; though some had 

 the face turned towards the south, the sun being an object of 

 Pagan veneration, others had it turned to the north: and, whilst 

 some were covered, others had no protection, which I think 

 satisfactorily proves that they were not all buried at the same 

 time. Third; with one exception, no ornaments were dis- 

 covered: they were not therefore, a rich people. Fourth; there 

 were no traces of armour, or implements of war: we hence 

 conclude that these burials took place during a time of peace. 

 Fifth ; their arms were not crossed, a circumstance which mili- 

 tates against the supposition that they might be christians. 



I now leave my readers to judge for themselves upon the sug- 

 gestions which I have made. And to those who would accuse 

 the Antiquary of wantonly disturbing these ancient Sepulchres, 

 I beg to state, though it scarcely seems necessary to do so, that 

 remains of so touching interest as the skeletons above described, 

 were not disturbed. It was the feeling of all present, that they 

 should not be so. The whole of the interments were, consquently, 

 re-covered with flagstones, and the earth thrown over them. 

 The barrow itself, was eventually restored to its original form. 



JOHN. H. AUSTEN. 



