By the liev. E. H. Goddanl. 115 



is incomparably richer in the implements of the first two periods 

 than in those of the last three. 



In addition to the l^ronze objects, Plate VII., FigH. 13 and 15, 

 shows two objects of lignite or shale. They are specimens of the 

 conical Jjutton or ]>oss with converging perforations on its flat 

 base, and the King with peculiar holes in the thickness of the edge, 

 communicating with each other, which has been called, for want 

 of a better name, a " Pulley Pting." Several of these have been 

 found in the barrows of Wiltshire, almost always in association 

 with one another, so that it seems most probable that they formed 

 together a fastening for the dress, though how the ring was used 

 is not known. These specimens were found with an interment' 

 doubtless of 1st Period of the Bronze Age, under a large Sarsen 

 stone at Winterbourne Monkton, in N. Wilts, in 1856, and are now 

 in Devizes Museum. The " button " is of brown shale, and is 

 l)robably the largest specimen of the type known. The ring, 

 on the otlier hand, is of a substance closely resembling jet, 

 though Dr. Thurnam came to the conclusion that none of the many 

 beads and ornaments of so-called jet found in Wiltshire were really 

 made of that material, but of various kinds of lignite, and shale, 

 more easily procurable in tliis part of England. 



In one respect Wiltshire has been singuhirly fortunate. 

 l*r()])al)ly no otlier county in England has retained such a large 

 j)roj)ortion of its ])rehi.storic aiiliiiuities williin its own l)orders. 

 The l)ril,ish Muscuin jjossesses th(^ greater jiait of (,lii^ eollectioii 

 formed l)y llie iJe\ . Mdward Dul^'e, of Lal<e. aiuMias also ol her 

 valuable speeiuieiis, obtained by pureliase or by gift ; but the great 

 nia jorit )', of t lie objects of the Xeolilliie and Ibon/.e Age ]>eriods dis- 

 covere(l in \\'iltsliii v during I lie last eenlury — though il is true mam 



1 '1 



