Notes on Urns and Gists found at Amble. 527 



cable twist line in the middle, and diagonal impressions of tlie 

 serrated instrument with which the zig-zag ornament of the 

 neck had been made. The height is 6 inches. The lower por- 

 tion of the cup is perfectly plain and seems to have been carefuUy 

 smoothed over with some hard instrument, as it has quite a 

 glossy appearance. No large bones were found, only some 

 small pieces of what had apparently been a skull. They were 

 however very much decayed, and crumbled into dust when 

 handled. 



In connection with this subject it may be of interest to note 

 that when this barrow was formed, the sea shore must have been 

 at a considerable distance from where it now is. The quarry at 

 high water is not more than sixty yards inland. Between the 

 quarry and the sea, at low water, the shafts of the old coal mine 

 which used to be worked here are to be seen. There are at 

 least seven that are visible, three having been found in the 

 quarry itself. They are circular, about four feet in diameter, 

 and lying about thirty yards apart ; the pick marks are as plain 

 and distinct as though they had been hewn out a year ago 

 instead of centuries. On Coquet Island, which lies exactly 

 opposite, there are similar shafts, piercing the sandstone, which 

 is the same as that of the quarry. The bed of coal has been 

 about 2 feet 4 inches thick, the quarrymen having come upon 

 the old workings. With high tides, the sea finds its way 

 through these into the quarry. In exploring one of the shafts 

 on the shore, about five feet below the top of the rock, it 

 was found to have been closed up with old ship timbers, the 

 trenail holes shewing their former use. How far off the old 

 shore was to the east of the present it is impossible to determine ; 

 but there is a tradition that the "Bridge" rock which is now 

 fully half a mile from the shore was once connected with the 

 mainland. What makes this probable is the fact that on a fine 

 day, with low tide, and clear water, the remains of masonry are 

 visible upon it. Of the encroachments of the sea on our eastern 

 shores we have another example in the submerged forest at 

 Howick, a few miles to the north. 



At Druridge bay, about five miles south of Amble, there can 

 be seen at low water the remains of an old oak forest ; and in a 

 bed of peat moss about 3 feet thick, lying between the Amble 

 quarry and the salt pans remains of trees are found. Even 

 during the experience of Messrs Green and Douglas the sea 



