skulls of the present generation; and this fact, coupled with the absence of all appearance of tools or metallic

Abbots in the former, and at Littleton Drew, and West Kennet 5. This is quite different from the prevailing cranial type in the skulls from the circular (bowl and bell-shaped) barrows of Wilts. and Dorset, which is the shortened oval or brachy-cephalic. The former is probably to be regarded as that of the ancient Dobuni, a more primæval tribe than the Belgæ of South Wilts. and Dorset, by whom most of the circular barrows of those counties were probably raised. The chambered barrows of Gloucestershire and Wilts., so remarkable for the combination of ortholithic and horizontal masonry, and so various as to the details of their construction, are probably of Dobunian origin. They seem to belong to the 'stone period' of that tribe, flint implements and weapons being found in them, but as far as appears, none of bronze or iron.

In describing the chambered long-barrow at West Kennet, (Archæologia, vol. xxxviii. p. 403,) attention was drawn to the fact that two of the crania found in the chamber presented clefts and fractures such as led to the inference that they had been inflicted during life, and were indeed the death-wounds. The conclusion arrived at was, that certain slaves or dependents had been immolated at the obsequies of their chief, and were buried with him in the same tomb. Evidence of such a practice on a still larger scale is afforded by the appearance in the remains of four skulls from the Rodmarton chamber. The two more perfect are those of men from thirty to forty years of age; a third apparently that of a woman of thirty years. The first is very remarkable. It presents a clean and nearly straight cleft through the whole of the frontal and front halves of the two parietal bones. The edges of this cleft are sharp, and stained of a brown colour. In the centre of the frontal, rather above the left orbit, is a hole the size of a sixpence, which at its upper edge is continuous with the cleft of which it forms the centre. This skull was at first supposed to be of a different type from the others, and brachy-cephalic, but the greater breadth is no doubt due to the permanent frontal suture. It is the skull of a remarkably large though probably short man, with coarse, heavy features, and somewhat prognathic, though very short upper jaw. The second is the calvarium of a smaller

4

nh, Lille-ton Drew, the place of evening sacrifices of the Druids.' Most places called Littleton are written Lille-ton in "Domesday."

57, Chun, Ken, 'the worship of Chioun, the moon.' Amos v. 26.

implements, is a feature worth observing. Several of the skulls appeared to have received fractures during life, and may have either received these wounds in battle, or may have been sent out of the world in sacrifice.

man, having the post-coronal depression more marked than any other of the series. The frontal and right parietal bones are gashed in various directions, the gashes probably representing as many murderous blows; they had certainly been inflicted before burial.

"The difference in the appearance of the cleft portions, which had fallen down, and been better preserved than the rest of the skull by the clay and moisture at the bottom of the chamber, is very striking. The fragment of the woman's skull presents an extensive cleft across the centre of the parietals, more irregular and jagged at the ends than the preceding. The fourth skull is represented merely by fragments, the margins of which are very sharply cleft. The number of gashes implied by these fragments is very great, and one might suppose that they had been inflicted in spite and wantonness. From their position at the bottom of the chamber many of them retain the natural oil of the

One of the Skulls found in the Rodmarton Tumulus.

bone, and the edges are as sharp and fresh as if the wounds had been inflicted yesterday. The remaining fragments present little worthy of remark. One, the half calvarium of a child perhaps twelve years old, shews the dolicho-cephalic character strongly marked at this early period of life."-Letter from John Thurnam, Esq., M.D., to the Rev. Samuel Lysons, May, 1863.