AGES OF BURIED FORESTS. 185 



it is the site of a morass which covered deep the remains 

 of what was a rich woodland in times long gone by. 

 When the morass was being drained, near the root of an 

 ancient tree, eight coins pertaining to different Roman 

 emperors, were discovered. 



On a moor in Lancashire there were found eight small 

 boats or canoes, such as the natives used about the time 

 of the Romans ; and in another moor a brass kettle, with 

 a small millstone, and several beads of wrought amber ; 

 all interesting to as us evidence to the fact that the 

 aborigines of these lands made use of timber trees. 



Between Birmingham and Bromley were found several 

 parcels of wood cut into poles, beams, &c., with the head of 

 an axe resembling the Roman battle-axe, and a coin of the 

 Emperor Vespasian ; and it is stated that under these the 

 solid ground was in ridges, apparently produced by its 

 having been ploughed. 



In digging a foundation for the low level sewage in 

 West Ham marsh, there were found on a bed of peat from 

 twelve to fourteen feet thick, resting on a layer of clay, 

 and this again on gravel, stems of oak, yew, and willow, 

 from twelve to eighteen inches in diameter ; and wherever 

 the marshes along the run have been trenched, ancient 

 timber has been found embedded. Bronze celts also have 

 been found, and in Plaistow marsh two lumps of metal 

 from the maker's ladle. And lead coffins containing 

 skeletons have been dug up in West Ham marsh. 



Citing cases of wood preserved and peat bogs in 

 Ireland from remote times, and the cases mentioned of 

 Roman remains having been found along with wood in 

 peat bogs in England, Mr M'William cites also numerous 

 cases of wood being found in Scotland with like indications 

 of having been preserved from the time of the Romans. 

 All of which facts, viewed in connection with what has 

 been ascertained of the antiseptic properties of peat, makes 

 it more than probably that some of these relics of ancient 

 woods have been preserved from the time of the Romans, 

 or the commencement of the Christian era, and that author 



