CHAP, xii.j PREHISTORIC IRON AGE NORTH OF THE ALPS. 439 



may mention the red coral ornamenting the oblong 

 shield found in the river Witham near Lincoln. 1 



Britain also was connected with the trade-route pass- 

 ing down the valleys of the Khine, and from the inti- 

 mate association of the British with the adjacent Gallic 

 tribes, they must have been acquainted with the arts of 

 navigation. The Veneti possessed a marine capable of 

 contending with the Eoman galleys almost on equal 

 terms, and the Britons first came in contact with the 

 Koman arms as their allies. It may be concluded also 

 that they were acquainted with the nearest coasts of 

 Denmark and Germany, from their possession of ships, 

 and from the fact that Pytheas sailed from the North 

 Foreland to explore Thule and the amber coast. 2 



Prehistoric Iron Age on the Continent North of 

 the Alps. 



The civilisation of the Iron age in France, Switzer- 

 land, and Germany, presents no important points of 

 difference as compared with that of Britain. It was, 

 however, more directly influenced, as would naturally be 

 expected, by the Etruskans and the Greeks. M. Chantre 3 

 has called attention to the numerous articles of metal 

 work of Etruskan design, which have found their way 

 through the passes of the Alps into France ; and Liriden- 

 schmidt, 4 Hildebrand, 5 Virchow, 6 arid others, to those 



1 Horce Ferales, pi. xiv. 2 See Chapter XIII. 



3 Gongr. Int. Archeol. Prehist., Stockholm vol., 1874, 411. Matiriaux, 

 1878, p. 1. See also Delort, Mat., 1878, p. 57 ; and Flouest, Mat., 

 1877, p. 273. 



4 Lindenschmidt, Die AltertUumer unserer heidnischen Vorzeit. 



5 Congr. Int., Stockholm, 1874, 592. 



e Confjr. Int., Buda-Pesth vol., 1876, pp. 252 and 449. 



