A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 



knife of similar workmanship, in one or those at Five- Wells. No 

 arrow-heads of other shapes have, so far as is known, been found in the 

 Derbyshire chambers. Fragments of coarse hand-made pottery were 

 scattered on the Five- Wells site, but it is probable that they were de- 

 rived from destroyed secondary burials at a higher level. The skulls in 

 every case, when sufficiently perfect for their form to be made out, 

 were long or dolichocephalic. Unfortunately, no measurements of the 

 long bones from which the stature might be determined are available, 

 these bones being usually in a very broken condition. The femora 

 which have come under the writer's notice have invariably had the linea 

 aspera developed into a pilaster-like ridge, and the tibias have exhibited 

 in greater or less degree the flattening of the shin (platycnemisni) , which 

 is a common feature in these ancient skeletons. Another feature may 

 be noted the remarkable immunity of these Neolithic people from 

 dental caries. Out of 148 teeth from the Harborough Rocks chamber, 

 many of which were much worn, some indeed so much that they must 

 have been almost level with the gums in life, there were only five or 

 six which showed any signs of caries. 



The association of numerous skeletons, dolichocephalic skulls and 

 delicate leaf-shaped arrow-heads, with Neolithic chambers, has been ob- 

 served elsewhere in Britain. We need only cross the Derbyshire border 

 a few miles for an excellent example to the point. Mr. Carrington 

 opened a large and little disturbed chamber at Wetton in 1849, and 

 found therein about thirteen dolichocephalic skeletons and several of 

 these arrow-heads. Further afield, at Rodmarton in Gloucestershire, 

 these arrow-heads were all broken, apparently purposely, as seems to have 

 been the case at Harborough Rocks. In one respect however the Derby- 

 shire barrows of the class which have been best investigated namely 

 those of Mininglow, Five- Wells and Harborough Rocks differ from 

 those elsewhere in being circular instead of elongated, and in having 

 abrupt instead of incurved entrances. In these features, coupled with 

 the wedge-shaped plans and inward-leaning sides of their chambers, we 

 seem to have a distinct local type ; but it is not safe to assume that the 

 less known Derbyshire examples, although probably circular in every 

 case, are of this type. The absence of mention of galleries may not 

 be due to want of investigation or to oversight, and certainly the 

 Ringhamlow chambers appear to have little in common with those 

 just referred to. A gallery is not the only form of access in a cham- 

 bered tumulus, as has been proved by excavations in other parts of the 

 country. 



Bronze-Age Interments. Published accounts have appeared of about 

 250 barrows of our second class, which have been examined in Derby- 

 shire from motives more or less scientific. They differed greatly in size 

 and construction, and their interments showed that during the period 

 when they were raised, both inhumation and cremation were practised, 

 sometimes together. In fact, they may be said to have little in common, 



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