people of South Britain, having lost their native art, owing to the rapid spread of Roman influence in that part of the country, had subsequently to borrow its details from the books and writings of the early Christians of Scotland and Ireland.
In discussing some of the archæological problems arising out of the mass of relics found on the site of the Glastonbury Lake-village, I wrote as follows in regard to one or two points which come within the scope of the present chapter:
"The absence of objects ornamented with enamel among the Lake-village relics may have some significance, although it would be hazardous, or at least premature, to draw a definite conclusion from negative premises. That enamel working was practised by the Gauls, prior to the Roman conquest of their country, is proved by excavations made on the site of Bibracte. Here crude enamels, but only of one colour (red), were found in various stages of manufacture, in workshops furnished with furnaces, crucibles, moulds, polishing stones, and other tools used in this industry. Champlevé was the first kind of enamelling practised in Britain, the artists using only one colour, a brilliant red, with which they filled the trumpet-shaped spaces of their Late Celtic designs; but this was long after these designs were invented. Many of the specimens of British enamel have been found in association with Roman remains;
