By Mr. Cunmngton. 



107 



of some unfortunate individual who had met with a violent and 

 sudden death, for a quern or hand millstone, of Millstone-grit, was 

 lying on the skull. There were also fragments of several other 

 querns. Of articles in metal, the coins found were of the period 

 of Constantine the Great, but these were not of any particular 

 interest, nor were they very abundant. Two or more fibulae of 

 bronze of a common Roman type also occurred. Of iron there 

 were a considerable number of large broad-headed nails, such as 

 would be suitable for fastening on the tiles of the roofs, and for 

 this purpose they were doubtlessly used. But the most remarkable 

 iron instrument is that represented (of one half the size of the 

 original) in the engraving opposite. It is a kind of double comb, 

 twelve inches long and four wide, having two sets of teeth. On 

 the one side are twenty-six teeth, and on the other forty-seven, of 

 a much smaller size. The outer bars project two inches at each 

 end. We are inclined to think that this instrument was used for 

 carding wool or flax ; it would certainly be well suited for such a 

 purpose. It is now corroded, but it has been skilfully fashioned, 

 and shews that the art of working in iron was at that period in an 

 advanced state. We believe it to be the only example of the kind 

 known. An experienced smith to whom this specimen was shown, 

 expressed much surprise at the evident skill which must have been 

 exercised in the manufacture of it. He was of opinion that very 

 few modern workers in iron could make such an instrument, and 

 he further assured me that the iron of which it is made must be of 

 the finest quality, as it would have been impossible to fashion the 

 long and delicate teeth of the comb from iron of an inferior kind. 

 Through the kindness of Mr. Wilks, we have been enabled to 

 present this instrument to the Society's Museum. In some of the 

 pits, more especially in one on the south side of the area, marked 

 (I) on the plan, there were evidences that they had been occu- 

 pied by persons engaged in working in iron. Whether or not 

 the iron was smelted on the spot it is difficult to decide. Most of 

 the slag is so dense as to lead to the conclusion that it was the 

 refuse of a smelting furnace ; yet on the other hand the quantity 

 found is very small, no great heaps of scoria are anywhere observed, 



