ON RAINS CAVE, LONGCLIFFE, DERBYSHIRE. 247 



being intercalated in the stalagmite below ; and fellow-fragments 

 of both sets were found superficially in the central region. These 

 vessels, it is almost needless to say, were sepulchral, not domestic: 

 for this reason they cannot well be identified with the refuse layer, 

 and as the only alternative is the earlier human remains, their 

 testimony must be held to be conclusive of the sepulchral origin 

 of the latter. There were numerous other potsherds found bear- 

 ing the characteristic decoration of vessels of this sort, but their 

 relative age was indeterminate. 



Another point must not be overlooked. When the cave ceased 

 to be used as a burial place, its floor would no longer have cause 

 to be disturbed. Hence all objects contained in subsequent 

 accretions of soil and stones were presumably of post-sepulchral 

 age — I say, presumably, because we must never forget the depre- 

 dations of burrowing animals, and the possibility of objects already 

 ancient being introduced with the debris. Here again, facts cor- 

 roborate theory. I will firstly instance the curious earthern cauld- 

 ron* found in the earlier excavations, and described and illustrated 

 in the first report. All the fragments were found near one 

 another, and, of course, above the charcoal layer. This indicated 

 that the vessel fell to pieces on the spot, and that the surrounding 

 soil had not since been disturbed. Not only was it post-sepulchral 

 from position, but it was decidedly of domestic type. Although 

 it was of hand-made ware, like the older sepulchral ones, it was 

 markedly different in other respects, being harder and redder; and 

 it was not alone, several other plain potsherds of simple character 

 being superficially found— notably one in the trench just outside 

 the entrance. We pass to another testimony, that of the wheel- 

 made pottery. It is a general opinion that ware of this sort was 

 unknown in Britain before the Roman occupation, hence was of 

 comparatively late introduction. Here again, facts jump with 

 theory : the wheel-made potsherds, although of primitive type, 

 were all found near the surface, two of them during the earlier 



On page 40, Vol. xi. of this Journal, a vessel remarkably like this was 

 wrongly attributed to a Durham cave : it was found, with other pottery, in a 

 trench close by a barrow at Heslerton Wold. 



