51 



PREHISTORIC AND ROMAN ANTIQUITIES IN THE 

 NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CHELTENHAM. 



By G. B. Witts, Esq. 



The prehistoric period in which man lived is divided for conveni- 

 ence into four ages called respectively, the Palaeolithic, the 

 Neolithic, the Bronze and the Iron age. 



During the first two ages man used tools and weapons made 

 of wood and stone, he was unable through lack of knowledge to 

 extract any metal from the earth and so unable to manufacture 

 metal tools or weapons. The first types of stone tools and 

 weapons are very rough in their making, but the second type, 

 the Neolithic, are easily distinguished by their delicate manufac- 

 ture, possessing frequently a beautiful polish and evidencing a 

 great deal more care in their making than do those of the 

 earlier PalEeolithic times. 



Gradually the method of extraction of copper and iron from 

 the ore containing them became known and the men with the 

 the bronze weapons succeeded the men with stone ones, while 

 later still man extracted iron and, in a sense, we still live in the 

 Iron age. 



What number of years is represented by the periods we speak 

 of as the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze or Iron ages we do not 

 know, but the number must be in thousands. 



No Palaeolithic remains have been found round Cheltenham, 

 but Neolithic remains are extraordinary plentiful. The high table 

 land of the Cotteswold hills must have formed a capital place 

 for these early men to live in, as it would give them a good view 

 over the Severn valley and enable them to see and reply to 

 signals from distant hills. 



Accordingly in most freshly ploughed fields at the top of the 

 hills one can pick up flint arrow heads and flint implements from 

 the soil. As there is no flint in the rocks of Cheltenham these 

 must have been made elsewhere and brought here ready made, 

 or else blocks of flint must have been brought and the articles 



