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A N C I E N T BRITISH SKULL.
F R O M BAEROW ON HITTEE HILL, THE PEAK, DERBTSHIEE.
(KEGION OF TJIE CORITAVI, TEMP. PTOLEMIEI, A.D. 120.)
Cranium from Hitter Hill Barrow.—Quarter-size..
IN the elevated region of the Peak of Derbyshire, wild and secluded, and, at the same time, secui-e
the aboriginal Britons found one of their well-peopled homes, in which it is probable they dwelt
unmterruptedly and for the longest period. It is not giving them undue credit, if we allow
them an attachment to the country where they enjoyed safety and peace, because it was varied and
charming to the eye, and thus harmonized with theii- own instincts of unrestrained freedom and
bold, self-reHant energy. That the tribes in this portion of the island selected for the restingplaces
of theii- dead, where these might calmly repose till the revivification which was constantly
expected, spots remote, high, distinguishable from afar, and picturesque, is manifest by the
descriptions in this work. No more evident instance of such choice has fallen under our notice
than the barrow of Hitter Hill, near Earl's Sterndale, whose commanding position, on the
summit of this eminence, unfolds many scenes of magnificence and beauty.
On the 19th of November 1862, an excavation of this sepulchi-al mound was commenced
hy Mr. J. P. Lucas and Mr. LI. Jemtt, P.S.A., and contmued for some days, until it was
thoroughly explored. It was found to contain interments of different kinds, cistic, inhumed
and incremated, and had been used for the deposit of many bodies at separate periods
drawings, with which his description is freely illustrated,—and
equally so to Mr. Lucas, for politely affording us the means
of figuring the skull.
The investigation of this multilocular cistic barrow has
been carefully described by Mr. Jewitt in his very pleasant
miscellany, 'The Reliquary,' vol. iii. p. 159. Our thanks
are due to him for the use of the wood-blocks from his own
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