PRE-HISTORIC MAN IN HOLDERNESS. 81 
of no mean importance had been made. The bones include those 
of man, deer (three species), horse (a small variety), Bos longifrons, 
sheep, goat, pig, wolf, fox, otter, beaver, voles (different kinds), 
and birds. The human bones consist of the remains of at least 
four individuals, and indicate that they were a short but muscular 
set of people. Strange to say neither stone nor metal instruments 
of any kind were met with, and the pottery is thick and of a coarse 
type. The Hon. Cecil Duncombe considers that the dwellings are 
of very great age (earlier than the Crannogs of Ireland and 
Scotland), and are referable to about the same date as the Ulrome 
Lake-dwellings ; certainly in each case the relics are covered by an 
enormous accumulation of peat. 
The same author also discusses the probable origin and antiquity 
of these ancient Pickering settlers to some length. Unfortunately, 
however, there seems at present very little data to work upon; 
nevertheless it is remarkable that the human remains should 
resemble each other in having belonged to exceptionally small in- 
dividuals, The skeleton of an adult female shows that she could 
not have exceeded four feet six inches in height when alive, and the 
owner of the largest thigh bone would not have stood more than five 
feet. It would be valuable to have the result of the examination 
of some human skulls from this place, and amongst future finds it 
is to be hoped some perfect ones may be secured. The Hon. C. 
Duncombe’s Paper is illustrated by a plate showing ‘“‘ Fragments 
of coarse Pottery, and of antlers and limb-bones of deer (Cervus) ; 
also perforated tines of antlers of Red Deer.” The finds are of 
great interest, and we trust Mr. Mitchelson and his friends will 
continue their investigations, especially towards the “island.” 
The discoveries already made certainly warrant it. 
As regards Lincolnshire there is not much of a similar character 
to record. I notice in Miller and Skertchley’s book on The 
Fenland that remains of a Lake-dwelling at Crowland had been 
observed by those authors. The following is the description given 
by Mr. Skertchley, (pp. 578-579) :—‘‘ These people (Neolithic Man) 
frequently built their villages on piles in lakes as a safe-guard from 
their enemies. Such Lake-dwellings are common in Switzerland, 
but rare in Britain. I detected the remains of one at Crowland 
in the year 1870, during some excavations. The piles were of 
sallow planted very close together, upon these was laid brushwood, 
and over this a layer of gravel. Immense quantities of bones, 
chiefly of the Keltic Shorthorn Bos longifrons were found, together 
with a few bone implements, and a curious ornament of jet.” The 
writer also adds that “near Ely, stakes have been found in the 
peat, but they do not seem to belong to a Lake-dwelling.” 
You will gather from this brief description that there are many 
points of resemblance between the Crowland and the Holderness 
dwellings. 
