Lastly, it appears that the Romans worked the ironore, which is found under similar circumstances in Oxfordshire. * The conclusion to be drawn from the facts now collected together appears to me to be that the mining operations of the Romans were characterised by the grandeur, the wisdom, and the methodical regularity, which were the general features of their government. The Britons, whom they subdued, had already attained to considerable proficiency in mining, and still more in the working of metals; but under the Romans mining and metallurgy made a progress equal, probably, in amount to that which has been effected from the cessation of their sway in Britain up to our own time. The question has been raised, what motive urged the Romans to invade and conquer Britain, and to hold it so long under their dominion? Undoubtedly ambition, the love of power, and the desire of annexation, were motives of great force. The love of gold has also been assigned, with considerable reason.† But ought not a still higher place to be assigned in this instance to the love of tin, lead, copper, and silver? Next to Spain, this island appears to have been the most productive territory held by the Romans for the working of mines, and to the prosecution of this object they seem to have applied their energy in Britain more than to any other branch of industry. Note.-In compiling the above memoir, I have received * Mark Anthony Lower, in Sussex Archæological Collections, II. p. 169-176, III. p. 248; and in the Journal of the British Archæological Association, IV. p. 265; Thurnam's Crania Britannica, p. 102. + Bruce's Roman Wall, p. 29-31. the most kind and valuable assistance from various correspondents. Several of them are already mentioned by name, or their publications are quoted. But I wish to record my obligations more especially to Mr. Albert Way, who was my predecessor in this field of research, and has generously assisted me to the utmost of his ability. Remarks on Ancient Chambered Cumuli, AS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE TUMULUS BY THE REV. H. M. SCARTH, M.A. A MONG the most curious remains of ancient time, and undoubtedly the most ancient, are the Tumuli which still exist in many parts of this country, especially in Wilts, Somerset, the Sussex Downs, Yorkshire, and elsewhere. These are, however, fast disappearing, as cultivation is extending itself; and have in past ages been treated with little respect, and often rifled for the sake of supposed treasures. To the historian of ancient Wilts, and to more recent writers, we are indebted for much information on this curious subject; and to the published engravings in Sir R. C. Hoare's valuable work we owe exact ideas of the relics found in the barrows of the Wiltshire Downs; while the unrivalled collection of sepulchral remains at Stourhead give to the antiquary an opportunity of comparing the interments of different periods, and drawing from thence inferences which become of great importance in tracing historical epochs, which comparisons are the only guide we have in dealing with pre-historic times. This paper, however, does not profess to treat of the remains found in ancient tumuli, but rather of the tumuli themselves, and more particularly the tumuli which contain chambers, nearly all of which have disappeared; but happily one perfect one remains, that at Wellow, in Somerset. Others formerly existed in the county, the record of one of which is still preserved, although the tumulus has itself become a confused heap of stones. Before, however, entering upon any detailed account of the chambered tumulus at Wellow, it may be well to say a word or two on ancient modes of interment in sepulchral barrows. Happily, through the careful investigations of archæologists in different countries, our knowledge of this subject is becoming pretty exact, as well as extensive. To Mr. Lukis we are indebted for active and careful investigations in the Channel Islands, especially in the island of Guernsey, where he has brought to light much that may greatly assist us in forming just conclusions respecting other places where similarly constructed barrows have been discovered. So much mystery has hitherto hung over the stone chamber, and the ancient mound of earth which occasionally covers it, that much is due to those who have given to the world correct information as to the purposes for which they were designed. Mr. Lukis, with much labour, explored forty of these ancient sepulchral remains in the Channel Islands, and some in France and England, and says: "I have found a very remarkable similarity pervading all, as though a definite architectural law had regulated their construction, and a precise plan had determined the mode of interment. From numerous accounts which have reached us, we have reason to conclude that the same structures are to be found in most parts of the world." This being the testimony of a very careful investigator, we shall go on to see to what class of tumuli, and to what people, the curious sepulchre at Wellow may be referred. It would be needless for me here to go into a classification of sepulchral remains, which has already been done so ably by Mr. Lukis in his paper in the Archæologia, Vol. xxxv., p. 232. To that I would refer the curious enquirer into these and such like monuments. He there states that "Cromlechs, cists, cycloliths, peristaliths, etc., exist in Asia, Africa, North America, and indicate that the cromlech-building people were branches of one original stock; that they took with them the same ideas in their migrations, and preserved the same customs, as those whom we designate the Celta; and we find, further, that their modes of interment were in every respect identical." And here I would refer to a work of peculiar interest, entitled "The Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," by E. G. Squire and E. H. Davis-a work of great research and very carefully executed, with plans and drawings. It is there asserted that earth-works are found along the whole basin of the Mississippi and its tributaries; also in the fertile plains along the Gulf of Mexico. Abundance of small mounds are found in the Oregon territory. These remains are not dispersed equally over the areas of the countries mentioned, but are mainly confined to the valleys of rivers and large streams, and seldom occur far from them. If so much interest attaches to these remains, how necessary it is to preserve and carefully to record whatever monuments still exist in this island of the ancient people |