POTTERY OF THE BARROWS. 63 



or less throughout France, is very distinct from that of the British 

 sepulchral pottery. In Denmark and in Holland and North Ger- 

 many, amongst the vessels belonging to a time before the intro- 

 duction of iron, some are found which have a greater resemblance 

 to those of our own cairns and barrows ; but though there is a 

 certain general similarity of form, and still more of ornament, the 

 difference between those of the two countries is well marked 1 . 



The distinction between the pottery of the barrows and that of 

 Roman manufacture made in England is as well defined as is 

 possible in vessels equally made of clay. The shape, the orna- 

 mentation, the paste of the British and Roman ware possess scarcely 

 anything in common. The same may be said of the so-called 

 Anglo-Saxon pottery, which has many features in common with 

 Frankish ware, and with that found in the older seats of our Eng- 

 lish ancestors on the Elbe and in adjoining districts. In colour, 

 form, and mode of decoration, as well as in the paste, it is so dif- 

 ferent from that of the British sepulchral mounds, that no one who 

 has the slightest acquaintance with the two could ever mistake 

 between them. 



Before a derailed description of these vessels and the classes into 

 which they are divided is entered upon, it is necessary to make 

 a few general remarks upon them with reference to those features 

 they po.-sess in common. But, before doing this, it is desirable to 

 remove a false but very common impression with regard to their 

 manufacture. They were at one time almcst universally, and are 

 still occasionally, spoken of as being sun-dried. This is not the 

 case with any of them, for they have all invariably undergone, 

 more or less, the action of fire ; though, in some instances, this has 

 taken place to a very trifling extent. They have not been baked 

 in a kiln, but at an open fire ; and the larger vessels frequently 

 show on their upper part a tinge of black colour, caused by the 

 smoke of the wood with which they were burnt. 



They have been all hand-made, not one showing any sign of the 

 use of the wheel ; and taking this into consideration, many of 

 them are surprising specimens of the potter's skill. 



As a rule, they are more or less ornamented, it being rare to find 

 one which is quite plain. 



1 In Denmark, as also in Guelderland, vases much like our own ' drinking cups ' have 

 occurred. In the style and manner of their ornamentation they are very similar to 

 ours, as also in their general shape, though they are rather squatter than the British 

 specimens. 



