THE HELSTONE. 41 



obtainable. Pottery is also an invaluable guide in estimating 

 the progress of Neolithic civilisation. Its decoration was first 

 made with the thumb and finger nails, and there was an 

 absence of curvilinear design. 



Parallel lines, zigzags, striated triangles and dotted patterns 

 abound. Later the incised lines on black ware were filled 

 with a white substance; and colours and even slip work were 

 introduced. Drinking cups, incense holders, urns, with clay 

 figures of women, animals and birds, were made. 



The Neolithic occupation of Knossos, in Crete, covered 

 more than 3,000 years, and supplies dates for the rest of 

 Europe, the whole period lasting perhaps 7,000 years. 



The incised axes on certain stones in the Morbihan tumuli 

 represent votive ones, and were a cuitus object and symbol of 

 divinity. There are menhirs in France and Sardinia which 

 apply to the mother goddess of nature and are a link with the 

 East. It is noteworthy that paleolithic ivory female figures 

 have been discovered in France far superior to anything 

 neolithic. And the study of all these prehistoric remains leads 

 one to realise that our predecessors of the stone age were 

 possessed of considerable skill and artistic talent with which 

 they had not been usually credited. 



We are fortunate to possess, in this neighbouthood, this 

 dolmen, also a chambered long barrow and a cromlech. The 

 downs about here are so crowded with barrows and megalithic 

 remains as to constitute a veritable Mecca of the Neolithic and 

 Bronze Ages. The Bronze Age barrow 45 yards S.E. was 

 opened by Mr. Cunnington in 1894 and contained an urn of 

 burnt bones with a stone covering its mouth resting on the 

 undisturbed soil." There are several large stones lying about, 

 one of which especially seems to resemble a menhir. 



* D.F.C. Proceedings, Vol. XXXVII, p. 47. 



