76 THE CELTIC TUMULI OF DORSET. 



soil. A few iron nails, probably Roman, were found in another 

 barrow. No. 45 produced a lance head and two knives of iron, 

 with a skeleton, which are decidedly Saxon ; and No. 64 contained 

 with a skeleton an iron spear-head, and another weapon, much 

 corroded by rust, both unquestionably Saxon ; moreover, ought not 

 to have been included in Mr. Warne's series, as the Tumulus is 

 situated on the north side of the Bockly Dyke, which is in 

 Wiltshire. In Turn. No. 14, N., were found by Sir R. C. Hoare, 

 with a female skeleton in the extended position, beads and bronze- 

 articles, an iron ring, one and a-quarter inch in diameter, the 

 broken pieces of another iron ring, and other bits of iron, much 

 corroded. In the Afflington Barrow (No. 88, S.) Mr. Austen found 

 a piece of iron, with a piece of Kimmeridge shale, and fragments of 

 pottery, apparently Eoman. 



Caesar speaks of the iron mines of Gaul (De. Bell. Gal. vii., 21), 

 and it is probable that this metal was in use in Britain prior to 

 Caesar's invasion, but confined to a few localities. Of Cantium he 

 says "mmaritimis ferrum"f^e. Bell. Gal. v., 12). It is now well 

 known that the iron mines of the Forest of Dean, in Gloucester- 

 shire, and those of the Forest of Andred, in Sussex, were extensively 

 worked by the Romans. But there was a time when the Keltae of 

 these districts wandered through their forest glades in happy 

 ignorance of the rich mineral treasure beneath the soil ; it was 

 reserved for strangers of another speech and nation, further 

 advanced in the knowledge of the arts of life, to bring into the 

 light of day this hidden gift of Nature. Slowly, no doubt, the 

 change came, but we may be sure that the glare of the first iron 

 furnace which lit up those barbarous wilds sounded the knell of 

 that old bronze age which had followed the earliest migrations 

 from east to west through Greece, and Italy, and Spain to Gaul and 

 Britain. Thus was introduced a new factor in man's progress 

 towards civilization, even such as neither the poor Kelt or his 

 master had ever dreamed of. From that day to this it has been 

 ever growing in power, whilst the Genius of Science has been ever 

 finding out new methods of adapting it to the wants and wills of 



