ON THE LAKE VILLAGE AT GLASTONBURY. 597 
wedge, analysis shows at least twice as much tin as copper, besides a good 
proportion of iron oxide, and a little alumina and lime, and much organic 
matterand water. These latter constituents were doubtless derived trom 
the marsh in which the rod had been lying for so many centuries. 
The specific gravity of the whole object is 6-78. This agrees fairly 
with what may be calculated from the relative amounts of tin and tin 
oxide, with the bronze terminals, showing that it is solid throughout. 
The slight double bend in the bar is probably due to the inequality of the 
support during these ages. Even very rigid substances will suffer such 
changes in long periods of time. 
There remains the question as to the purpose for which it was made. 
Originally, it probably appeared as a round bar of white metal, orna- 
mented with gold, capped at each end bya bronze terminal. This suggests 
the idea of some official mace or sceptre, sufficiently strong and heavy to 
serve as a weapon if so required. 
Report C. 
T have examined all the metallic objects which you sent me recently. 
First I thought it best to take the specific gravity of each, as that could 
not injure the specimens in any way, while it might give good indications 
as to the metals of which they are composed. The accompanying paper 
gives their specific gravity, arranged from the highest to the lowest. You 
will see that the objects fall into two groups ; four of them having a 
specific gravity approaching that of lead (11-4) and the others that of tin 
(73). In all cases the actual specific gravity is too low, but as the objects 
are all more or less oxidated, mixed perhaps with some earthy matter, we 
may expect such to be the case. The density of L 21 was not taken, as it 
was manifestly an unwrought piece of melted tin, probably oxidated by 
exposure to the air while still hot. 
To commence with the larger group, that of tin L 12, the largest object, 
is proved by its density, as well as its general appearance, to be a solid 
ball of metallic tin, only very slightly oxidated ; while, on the other hand, 
the three last in the table are possibly oxidated all through, as the specific 
gravity of tin oxide itself is about 6°7. 
As to the four which are classified as lead, the first two would appear 
to be not far removed from pure metal, with a slight crust of suboxide 
(specific gravity 9-7) and of carbonate (6-5) ; but L15 and L 25 are a 
good deal lighter, though they do not seem to be much oxidised. They 
both have brown patches on a yellowish white crust, and under the micro- 
scope there are indications of the ridges, cracks, and small shiny spheres 
which are seen in the crust of undoubted specimens of tin from Glaston- 
bury. I thought it worth while, therefore, to cut off a small piece from the 
end of the coiled ring L 25. The result of the analysis, after removing 
the white incrustation as much as possible, showed 95°5 per cent. of lead ; 
besides this there was some other substance which had all the appearance 
of insoluble tin oxide. Supposing it to be really tin, it is so small in 
quantity, that it probably arises from some accidental mixture of tinstone 
with the ore from which the metal was reduced, and can hardly be looked 
upon as having been purposely added. They, therefore, rather support 
than contravene the opinion that the art of making pewter was not 
practised in Britain before the time of the Romans. 
