242 
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONTENTS OF THE HOWE TUMULUS. 
BY J. R. MORTIMER. 
I trust that a few additional remarks on the facts recorded in 
the former description of this barrow may be of some interest, and 
may help to further illustrate the history of this important barrow. 
Referring to Dr. Garson's descriptions of the skeletons it will be 
observed, probably with some surprise, that he had met with no 
female bones, the eight adult specimens all belonging to males. The 
height of the tallest he calculated to have been about 6 feet 3 inches, 
and the shortest about 5 feet li inches. It will also be noticed that 
their average height and cranial measurements correspond very closely 
with those usually found in long barrow interments, and are very 
different in type from other round barrow specimens with which 
Dr. Garson has compared them. But according to the prevalent 
theory the round barrows were raised by a round skulled race, and 
the long barrows by men with long skulls. A theory which is 
decidedly negatived by the evidence obtained from this round 
barrow, and also from numerous other examples which have come 
under my observation. It is to be regretted Dr. Garson has 
omitted giving the approximate ages of the eight adults. From my 
own examination of the teeth at the time when I was engaged in 
repairing the crania, I was led to believe the ages of the adults 
varied from 18 to 70, or even more, whilst those of the children 
extended down to the period of infancy. From this it would seem 
that in the grave and immediately above it there must have been the 
representatives of three generations who had, from some cause or 
another, been buried at the same time. As there was no break in 
the layers of soil covering the grave, this must be taken as affording a 
proof that no intrusive interment had taken place at any subsequent 
period. 
As a specialist Dr . Garson naturally attaches the greater import- 
ance to the collecting of the osseous remains. But then an ordinary 
archaeologist probably considers the collecting of other relics somewhat 
more important than merely securing the bones, for these are, except 
