70 Archceologia. 



one among many particulars in which the objects found in these 

 cemeteries throw light upon the obscurities of the early history of 

 our fathers, and as they are further excavated, the light will become 

 continually greater as the multitude of facts for comparison in- 

 creases. The objects found in the Isle of Wight bear so close a 

 resemblance to those found in the Kentish graves, that we cannot 

 but consider them as confirming the statement of Bede, though it 

 has been contradicted by some antiquaries, that that island was in- 

 habited by the same Jutish race who formed the population of Kent. 



One of the rather numerous plates of Anglo-Saxon antiquities 

 here given by Mr. Roach Smith represents the contents of a grave 

 in the Isle of Wight, just as they lay when discovered. It was that 

 of a lady, who, in life, had evidently been " of stately presence." 

 Round her neck had been hung a rather long string of beads, varied 

 in form and design, and many of them very; beautiful. She appears 

 to have worn a robe, which was fastened at the breast by three large 

 fibulaa of silver (of a form which is found commonly, though of dif- 

 ferent material, among the Anglian graves), arranged one above 

 the other. Over the robe a mantle appears to have been worn, 

 probably open in front, for it had been fastened at the right shoulder 

 by a fine large round fibula, and on the left shoulder by a fibula of a 

 different shape, but equally ornamental. At the waist a buckle in- 

 dicated the place of the girdle, and near it lay a knife, which had, 

 perhaps, been placed in a case attached to the girdle. Between the 

 legs were two objects which appeared also to have been suspended 

 to the girdle, and probably hung rather lower than the knees. One 

 of these objects was a large spoon of silver gilt, the bowl of which 

 was perforated with five holes; the other was a ball of dark- coloured 

 crystal, enclosed in silver mountings. The use of either of these 

 articles is not very evident. There are some reasons for believing 

 that in these early times a ball of crystal attached in any way to 

 the person was looked upon as a sign of authority or power, but 

 Mr. Smith seems inclined to reject this interpretation. At the lady's 

 feet had been deposited a bronze pail and two buckets. The little 

 finger of her right hand wore a massive gold ring, beautifully chased, 

 and on the same finger of the other hand there was a spiral ring of 

 silver. Close to the left arm, and parallel to it, lay a key-shaped 

 object made of iron ; and in a similar position on the other side of 

 the body another implement of the same metal, formed like a sword, 

 but quite blunt at the edges, and narrowing off into a long point at 

 the end. The handle was close by, and perhaps in, the hand. A 

 cloth fringed with gold tissue had been thrown over the head and 

 face. Altogether, the costume must have been very rich and hand- 

 some. 



Another excellent paper in this number of the Collectanea 

 Antiqua is devoted to the subject of " Remains of Roman Potteries 

 on the banks of the Medway and the ISTen, and in London." In an 

 essay on the "Archeology of Horticulture," continued from the 

 previous number, Mr. Roach Smith has collected a far larger quan- 

 tity of evidence, much of it extremely curious, on the cultivation of 

 the grape for wine in our island, and has shown most satisfactorily 



