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DESCRIPTIONS OP CRANIA.
The form of tMs cranium, wMcli even now presents a perfect proffle to the eye, is remarkable,
and lias an important bearing upon our inquiry. It is somewhat short, or braehy-ceijhalic, but
most worthy of observation fi-om its unusual elevation in the vertical region, a conformation to
which we have ventured to apply the term acro-cephalio. The skuHs of the modern Tm-ks are
distinguished amongst most others by this character of natural lofty culmination, wliich is well
exemphfied in a Tui-kish cranium in Table II. of Blumenbaeh's " Decades." To the anomalous
form of the fine skuU from the Barrow we shaU recui-, after we have given the history of
the discovery of that from which our Plate is taken.
On pursuing the excavation, a vei-y rude cist was met with, on the same level, made of
rough and massy slabs of hmestone, and partially covered with others of the same kind. Within
this cist, a second skeleton was found, with its feet lying close to the head of the fii-st. A tine of
stag's horn and a piece of flint lay in approximation to the back of the head, with a few more
fi-agments of flint near. Before the face of the skeleton was placed a smaU earthen vase of good
and peciihar form—here represented.
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British Vase from Wetton Rill Barrow.—Height 4i inches, greatest diameter inches.
This vase, or cup, has thi'ec projectmg beads rmining round the top, evidently made by hand;
then a row of perpendicular ribs, upon which are placed, at opposite points, foui- ribbed ears,
perforated so as to form loops; next follow two more cii-cular beads, at the bellied part; and a
mmiber of iii-egular impressions inclined in alternating rows, so as to resemble zigzag, finish the
oi-nament below. It is made of reddish clay which stiU contains some pebbles, and has received
a harder firing than usual. It is a remarkable specimen of very early British figulhie art*.
The skuIL of this second interment, which, from the cist that encompassed it, may be
regarded as the primai-y one of this tumulus, is that now presented to the reader's attention. In
preservation it is admirably perfect; and is the skuU of a man of somewhat advanced aoD'e '
probably sixty years at leastf. The face is of moderate length; the chin everted ; the zygomatic
ai'ches jiroject much more than in some examples ; the angle of the lower jaw obtuse—a mark of
years; the depressions of the cheeks not deep ; the lower frontal prominence marked; the
nasal bones, which are an inch in length, stand forth eminently; the forehead low, rather
abruptly passing into the flat dome of the calvai-ium; the supra-orbital arteries have ascended
to the sm-face of the frontal bone in grooves, not foramina; the orljits are oblique, and form flat
oblongs 1-7 inch long and 1-2 inch high. With an expressive nose; the everted chin, the tip
* In the letter of Dr. Ravin to M. Boucher de Perthes, on
the discriminative characters of primitive pottery, the circumstance
of the body contammg pebhles, is given as a specific mark
of the Celtic period. "Antiquités Celtiques," par M. Boucher
de Perthes, p. 5 0 6, 184 7. There is a somewhat similar vase in
the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, which
12.
has five loops, and is figured in Wilson's " Archaeology of
Scotland," p. 28.5. f When the cranium was
cleared of the soil which encumbered it, an annular bono fell
out of the foramen magnum. This proved to be the cricoid
cartilage, perfectly ossified, which had passed into the cavity
of the cranium, possibly by the agency of the Water-voles.
(2)
ANCIENT BRITISH-WETTON HILL, STAFFORDSHIRE.
of which presents a right line in front an inch in length, an indication of breadth and massivenessthis
face presents marks to which physiognomists attach energy and decision of character. The
teeth are rather smaU; the molars, and, indeed, the entii-e series, are ground away fidghtfully
and m the most ia-regular mamier. The mere degradation of one molar penetrates into its
cavi y. Some are absent and their alveoli obliterated, proving that they perished long before
death--and possibly were removed by the hand of an early British dentist. The vault of the
palate is broad and weU arched. The form of the cranium gives it an aspect of shortness. The
scaly portion of the occipital is prominent. There is an unusual depression at the anterior
mferior angle of each parietal just above the squamous suture, about an inch long and hah: an
inch broad. The mastoids are not large; the digastric groove decidedly marked; the foramen
magnum, of moderate size and regular ovoid form, is somewhat pomted anteriorly
MEASUREMENTS.
Horizontal circumference
Longitudinal diameter
Frontal Region.—Length
Breadth
Height
Parietal Region.—Length
Breadth
Height
21-5 inches.
7-4 „
5-1 „
5-5 „
4-9 „
4-7 „
6-0 „
4-7 „
Occipital Region.—Length . . 4-5 inches.
Breadth . . 5-3 „
Height . . 3-6 „
Intermastoid arch 15.4
Internal capacity 80 ounces.
Face.—Length 4-8 inches.
Breadth 5-4
Length of the Femui- , . . . 18-0
The distmguishing character of this cranium rests in the low, broad, square forehead rising
rather suddenly into an expanded flat vertical region; thus forming the wide vault of the
calvanum, which spreads out to the periphery. This structure arises from the larc-e frontal
bone, after ascending at a good angle, somewhat abruptly passing into the horizontal dii-cction •
±rom the vertical portions of the parietals favom-mg this conformation; and from the sides of the
calvanum also partaking of the same form by expanding or sloping outwards from the ridges above
he outer angular processes of the frontal bone, where the semicii-cular line commences, to a point
below the parietal protuberances. There is a shght elevation in the centre of thevertex, running
weU i T li f P - « e s of conformation
weU entitle this s^eull to be regarded as anexampleof one clearly marked aberrant series of ancient
Biitish crania-the platy-cephaUc. And, although the ancient Roman skuU of typical form
has an equal claim to the title of platycephalic, there are marked differences to b f perceived
« T a trd-. clefective expression of the angle of the lower jaw, especiaUyin its eversi::!
c t,ne mtleience in outline of the forehead and nasal bones, are marks of distinotimi
qu^e sufiicient to prevent the cranium of oiu- Plate in experienced hands from being takJn o':
one of Caesar's countrymen. °
In Ml-. Bateman's extensive coUection, we have further means of determining that this
i c T l ' o f r i f -P - e n t a t i o n among the ancient Britons.
Th skull of the Plate is not a sohtaay mstance, although probably one more strongly marked
nd ckarly defined than any other in the Museum. A fine capacious cranium from " RoU y
Lowe IS decidedly platycephalic, but not so flat ha the vertical region. And the same may be
(3)
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