148 Stonehenge Notes: The Fragments. 



lead us to believe, the colour of it would have been permanently 

 altered. On burning a piece of it, found in one of the rabbit holes, 

 in an ordinary fire, the colour changed from the natural greenish 

 grey to a dull light red. 



It is satisfactory thus to have gained some facts connected with 

 this mysterious building, which time has left to us without a written 

 history. Geology and petrology have lately joined in the pursuit 

 of the time-hidden truth, and the microscope has been used with 

 some success in this direction, but much remains to be done. 



It has been said that the spade is the hey to Uonehenge. In this 

 instance it has turned through some of the rusty wards of time, 

 but it must be handled with the utmost care and scientific skill amid 

 these venerated remains, now almost in ruin. 



The present paper gives proof of what may be done by this means, 

 and we close with the hope that, ere long, opportunity may be 

 aflbrded for further research. 



Fragment or Celt — Stonehenge. 

 In August, 1879, Mr. H. Cunnington found, just under the turf, 

 within a few yards from the main enirance of Stoneheuge, a fragment 

 of a hatchet-shaped stone implement. It is two-and-a-half inches 

 in length, of a dark reddish colour, and extremely hard. A slice 

 has been cut from it for the microscope, and it is thus shown to be 

 a uralitic diabasic rock, distinctly differing from the diabases com- 

 posing the obelisks of Sfonehenge. It is quite unlike any Wiltshire 

 stone, and must have been obtained from a long distance. 



Glass — eound at Stonehenge. 

 Among other fragments found within the area, two specimens of 

 ancient glass, probably of the Roman or Romano-British period, 

 deserve notice. Both are good specimens of glass-work— of good 

 quality and skilful workmanship. Of one of them a small piece of 

 the rim is preserved, sufficient, however, to show how exceedingly 

 thin and delicate was its form. It is of a bright amber colour. It 

 would appear to have been a drinking cup or goblet. If so it may 

 have been brought to Stonehenge on the occasion of the visit of 



