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PRE-HISTORIC MAN IN HOLDERNESS. 87 
somewhat to resemble the shape of a canoe or boat ; the head of 
the snake forming the prow, and having eyes of small pieces of 
quartz. The figures were closely crowded, and nearly similar, the 
only difference being in their height. Each figure represented a 
warrior, apparently entirely naked, armed with a club, and carrying 
two round shields, a larger and a smaller one; the eyes of each 
warrior being, like those of the serpent, formed of small pieces of 
quartz. An accurate drawing of one of these groupes (sic) has been 
submitted to some learned and leading antiquaries, none of whom, 
however, have been able to say exactly what is alluded to by these 
rude and curious relics of a barbarous age ; but they are generally 
supposed to have been left in commemoration of the descent of 
one of those piratical hordes who, in former times, poured in from 
Scandinavia upon different parts of the English coast, and carried 
into the interior the most horrible devastation by fire and sword. 
The serpent is evidently allegorical, and is by some supposed to 
allude to the ship which brought the pirates over ; by others, to 
their leader. Perhaps both surmises are in some degree correct.” 
From the narrator’s account the boat and figures are supposed 
to have been placed in a box. Poulson in his book figures one 
warrior, with two shields and a clnb. A paper by the Rev. 
George Dodds, D.D., subsequently appeared in the Religuary. 
This is accompanied by a woodcut shewing four of the figures. 
The paper commences by quoting Poulson’s description ; the 
remainder being the author’s views as to the theological significance 
of the find, With this however we need not concern ourselves at 
present, 
The photograph which is here reproduced by the kindness of 
the Editor of the Antiguary, will give as good an idea of the nature 
of the find as is possible. It is now in the Hull Museum. 
Underneath the photograph are the words ‘Ideal restoration of 
ancient boat and warrior crew, carved in wood, found at Roos in 
Holderness, Yorkshire, remains of which are in the Hull Museum, 
W. Stevenson, 1893,” and on the back is the following description 
in Mr. Stevenson’s handwriting :— 
“This restoration has been carried out by photography. The 
existing figures were photogr’d and a number of copies were printed 
off, a number of figures and shields were thus obtained out of which 
the restoration was built up on a cardboard, which, when completed, 
was photographed, with this result. The late Lord Londesbro’ 
stated that the existing figures were worth more than all the rest 
of the Hull collection, as they were unique: The authority for the 
position of the shields is the early drawing in Poulson’s “ History 
of Holderness,” vol. ii., p. 101, published in 1841, which shows 
one figure only. The artist, hearing there were originally eight 
(1) Vol. xi. pp. 203-207, 
