A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE 



it may be added that it shows a considerable resemblance to the 

 example figured in the plate in Archceologia just referred to. It is a 

 curious fact that although the rest of the objects figured passed into 

 the British Museum, the celt shown did not find its way there. 



The bits already referred to and here figured consisted in their 

 originally perfect condition of two somewhat oval rings about 3 inches 

 in diameter (outside measurement), and three connecting links skilfully 

 wrought. The space between the large rings is 5 inches. Unfortu- 

 nately both the bits have been broken, but enough remains to show the 

 definitely Late Celtic characteristics, especially in the terminations of the 

 connecting links. 



It thus appears that with the Early Iron Age antiquities found at 

 Hagbourne Hill, representing probably the remains of the burial of a 

 horse and horseman, if not indeed of a chariot also, there were found in 

 association at least three typical Bronze Age objects. Mr. Reginald 

 A. Smith l regards this as a ' survival into the Iron period of imple- 

 ments characteristic of the Bronze Age,' a supposition which is per- 

 fectly natural. The precise circumstances of this discovery have 

 not, as far as is known to the writer, ever been recorded, and it is 

 possible that the bronze celt found in 1893 may have no intimate 

 relation to the antiquities unearthed in 1803. 



Sepulchral deposits of this kind in which the horse and even the 

 chariot, or part of it, have been cremated with the body of the dead 

 warrior indicate undoubtedly the resting-places of persons of distinction, 

 and are in harmony with the customs prevailing at earlier periods. 

 All the Late Celtic relics rescued from the Hagbourne Hill site are now 

 preserved in the British Museum. 



Mr. R. E. Goolden, F.S.A., procured, and in 1906 presented to the 

 British Museum, a rather interesting form of socketed iron spear-head 

 or lance-head, from a site near Stonehouse at Cookham Dean. In its 

 original condition it probably measured somewhat over 7 inches in 

 length but the socket-end and the extreme point of the sharp end are 

 both missing, and the existing spear-head has unfortunately been broken 

 into two pieces. Still, it clearly shows, as will be seen from the 

 accompanying photograph, the hollow groove down the centre which 

 seems to be characteristic of weapons of this class and period. 



Other characteristic objects 2 of this period found in Berkshire 

 include a bronze dagger-sheath found at Cookham, pottery found at 

 Abingdon, and a bronze button from an unknown locality in the county. 

 The last-mentioned article resembled the example found at Kingsholm, 

 Gloucestershire. 



THE WHITE HORSE AT UFFINGTON 



The gigantic figure of a horse cut out on the side of the hill upon 

 which Uffington ' Castle ' is situated is of sufficient antiquity and 

 importance to have given its name to the great valley or vale which it 



1 B. M. Guide to Antiq. of the Early Iron Age, 83, 103. Arch. Cambr. (ser. 5) xiii. 329-30. 



1 88 



