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ANCIENT BRITISH SKULL.
PROM GEEEN GATE HILL BAEEOW, PICKEEING, N. E. TOEKSHIEE.
(EEGION OP THE BRIG-ANTES, TEMP. PT0LEMJ5I, A.D. 120.)
Cranium from Green Gate Hill Barrow.—Quarter-size.
THIS fine example of the typical forr^ of the aneient British cranium was derived from the
"Green Gate HiU Ban-ow" near Pickering, a district in which yery numerous tumuH of the
prmieval period exist. The Barrow, about two feet in height above the surface of the ground
was opened on the 20th of July, 1852. In a depression under the tumulus, two feet dee;
m tie nato-al soil, two skeletons were found laid upon the limestone rock, amongst fragments
of charcoal and bone ashes, and surrounded with loose stones. The skeletons were those of men
and were pkced m the usual flexed or contracted position with the knees dra.vn up, in an east
and west du-ection, only reversed, the head of one being eastwar-d, and that of the other westward
There were no implements of any kind found in the Barrow. Three rude flint instru-
Z i o L TT' 1^« — d i - t e neigh.
i l l L r . ' -- those of
human bodies is an indication of cremation having been performed in the same spot- and
Kobably pomts to the sacrifice of slaves, women or childi-en at the funeral rites, it may be of tw!
most hke y that a rude shaUow cist, or grave, had been made on the limestone rock, and thftwo
otht r T, ^ -- th remains of
w l ! Z d ' ^^ d- a s e d in future
W m g groiinds, incinerated o» tU .a^e occasion, and theii- ashes sprinkled in the cist
previously to the deposit of the two principal intei-ments upon them.
Both skuUs had belonged to persons in the vigorous period of life; the age of the one to