176 horne: prehistoric remains discovered in wensleydale. 
has been kept. The skeleton was laid on the left side, with the 
knees a little drawn up, the head to the north. The bones were in a 
very soft state, much broken, and partly displaced. This may be 
accounted for by the long time they have been in the earth, and to 
the gradual slipping of the shale. The skull was crushed almost 
flat, the jaw broken, and the teeth nearly all lying loose; two of the 
teeth were slightly decayed, all shewing the result of mastication and 
worn flat on the edge. I put the skull together as well as the broken 
fragments would allow. Near the left shoulder we found a bone 
implement, made of a piece of deer's horn nearly two inches in 
leng-th, the centre cut out, but leaving the ends complete. 
As far as I have been able to ascertain it is unique, no 
similar implement has hitherto been found in England, and as this 
appears to be something new, various opinions have been expressed 
as to its use, but in this instance I have held to my own, that it was 
a simple brace to fasten the skin cloak across the shoulders. Probably 
the owner was interred in the skin cloak, and this implement was 
used to fasten it. The position it was found in was just the one we 
should expect to hnd it if used for such a purpose. 
We also found several bones of reindeer on the left .side of the 
skeleton; the large bones had been split. Pieces of charcoal were 
scattered amongst the soil, but not in such quantities as is usually 
found with British burials. In March, 1885, accompanied by Mr. 
Powlett, I was fortunate in finding another interment ten feet to the 
west of the first one, and the same depth below the surface, two feet 
six inches. The skeleton Avas laid on the left side, head to the north, 
and near the skeleton we found a pear-shaped pebble, worn smooth. 
The bones very soft and broken; the skull crushed into fragments; 
lower jaw broken, but all the teeth either in the jaw or laid in close 
proximity; the whole of the teeth were sound and in good condition, 
but very hard, worn down in some cases to the base of the crown, 
and perfectly flat, evidence I think of having been worn down by 
some gritty substance conveyed into the mouth with the food. 
We have tested the ground in several places and found charcoal, 
split and broken bones, burnt stones and pot boilers, and I have no 
doubt this plaice was used as a camping gi'ound for a very long period, 
