ROMAN VILLAS DISCOVERED IN DORSET. 223 



found in the one differ from the skulls found in the 

 other. 



The Neolithic men, buried in the long barrows, have 

 Dolicho-Cephalic skulls ; i.e., the width from ear to ear is 

 considerably less than the length from the eyes to the back 

 of the head ; whereas the Bronze-Age men have Brachy- 

 Cephalic skulls ; i.e., square and strong, the width about 

 4-5ths of the length. Then as we pass from early to late 

 Celtic, the transition being marked by the presence of iron 

 objects, we notice that the skulls undergo modification, 

 tending towards the Dolicho-Cephalic type, indicating, as it 

 would seem, that Neolithic man had not been entirely 

 extirpated, but that, on the contrary, he was much in evidence, 

 and was tending to re-establish his type, as would be the case 

 if Neolithic men were numerous. 



We see, then, the immense value of such a find as a skeleton 

 in these pit-dwellings at Hod-hill, as we are able through it 

 to assert with some confidence that we are examining relics 

 of the prehistoric age, and that querns were known before 

 the Roman occupation. 



The crucibles which the excavations at Glastonbury have 

 brought to light show that our Celtic fore-elders were versed 

 in Metallurgy, and many objects in iron and bronze, such as 

 awls, gouges, nails, and portions of harness have been found. 

 Weaving, too, presupposes spinning, and the evidences for 

 this art are supplied by numerous finds of spinning-whorls, 

 made both of tin and of lead. 



II. — ^The Civilisation of Rome. 



We have examined to some small extent the civilisation 

 of our British forefathers ; we must now proceed to examine 

 the civilisation of Rome at the period under consideration, 

 and this we are enabled to do in a very remarkable manner. 



Anyone who has visited Pompeii will aclaiowledge the 

 weird feeling that comes over one when traversing the streets 

 of that ancient Roman town. Why, at any moment you 



