20 A Contribution to the Anthropology of Wiltshire. 



ovoelliptic, the glabella and ridges less prominent, and the forehead 

 more domeshaped as a rule : the nose is less frequently promi- 

 nent, even though convex in the bridge. The proportion of 

 breadth to length is not distinctive ; it averages about 75. But 

 the Saxons were not homogeneous in this respect : they would seem 

 to have included, beside a distinctly dolichous type, another of a 

 broad oval outline, which appears also among Gildemeister's ancient 

 Bremener skulls, and which I have called Batavian. It may 

 represent an ancient Keltic race, submerged and amalgamated in 

 Old Saxony by the blond long-heads from Scandinavia. 



Of the conquest of Wiltshire by the Saxons we know as much 

 as of that of other parts of England, or perhaps a little more ; but 

 after all it is but little. The country was devastated by raids and 

 invasions, and fought over with various event, before Cerdic began 

 its conquest and settlement. By that time the population may 

 have been seriously reduced and demoralized. The parts about 

 Salisbury and Wilton seem to have been first occupied, and settlers 

 then pushed up the river valleys which coalesce thereabout. Of 

 the prior inhabitants, some, no doubt, would flee westwards and 

 northwards, while others would remain as slaves to the new lords 

 of the land. If we suppose that the British tribal organization 

 endured throughout the Eoman period, then the upper and military 

 class would probably choose the former alternative. 



The conquest of Berkshire must have taken place a little later, 

 and the i;pper vale of Kennet would be colonized from the lower. 

 It would seem that the conquest was effected stage after stage ; 

 the colonists would multiply rapidly, as is always the case under 

 similar circumstances : with the advent of a new generation more 

 estates would be needed for the nobles, and more ploughland for 

 the churls ; and another slice of territory would be wrested from 

 the Welshmen. North Berks and the north-east corner of Wilts 

 would be prepared for such colonization by the earlier conquests 

 of the most formidalile of all West Saxon warriors, the mighty 

 Ceawlin. After that we are in some difficulty. We know that 

 after the victory of Deorham, and the slaughter of the three 

 " kings," Cirencester was one of the cities that fell before him. 



