655 
The circumstances detailed imparted to the relic a geolo- 
gical, as well as an antiquarian interest. It was found tying 
flat, and covered by a layer of sand, in which there were pieces 
of black oak, lying right above it, precluding the notion that it 
could have sunk into that position, and indicating rather that 
the whole of the alluvial matter found above it must have 
been deposited since. It is of a beautiful yellowish bronze 
colour ; and its elegant form and workmanship indicate a 
very high state of the arts necessary to the manufacture of 
weapons of this kind. Three rivets, by which it was at- 
tached to the handle, still remain. The interest that 
attaches to this relic is enhanced by the fact that, in the 
year 1818, at Stanley Ferry, a few miles above the place 
where it was found, the remains of a canoe formed from the 
solid oak, also of this period, were discovered. It was similarly 
embedded in the detritus of the country, and was eighteen 
feet six inches below the present surface of the ground, 
and about six feet below the bed of the river, and measured 
in length seventeen feet nine inches, and its greatest breadth 
is three feet ten inches. A number of oak trees, quite sound 
and black, were found near to the canoe, which is now 
deposited in the museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical 
and Literary Society, at York. 
Mr. Briggs inquired whether the spot where the dagger 
was found was not very near to the hill called Fairies Hill ? 
Mr. Wilson said it was a very short distance from the hill. 
Mr. Briggs remarked that the origin of the Fairies Hill 
was no doubt artificial. The question was, by whom was it 
formed? It was generally supposed to have been formed 
by the Romans, for at Castleford, distant about three-quarters 
of a mile, there was a Roman encampment, and it was 
thought that this hill was a sort of outpost of that encamp- 
ment. In forming a dock within three hundred yards of 
the place where this dagger was found, the workmen 
