A HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE primigenius, B. tongifrons, horse, red deer, sheep, and goat. These discoveries were made in the course of excavations for a deep-drainage scheme. Another indication of this early period was found in the Late Celtic ornament on a bronze bowl found in an interment at the Upper House, Barlaston, soon after the year 1850. All the circumstances of the burial point to an Anglo-Saxon date, but the orna- ment certainly displays Late Celtic tradition. An interment in a barrow called Steep Low, near Alstonfield, which the late Mr. J. Romilly Allen considered to be of the Early Iron Age, 8 was discovered by Mr. Thomas Bateman in 1845. The barrow, a mound about 50 yds. in diameter, and 1 5 ft. in elevation in the centre, was constructed almost entirely of loose stones, a circumstance which made its exploration at once difficult and dangerous. Previously to the examination by Mr. Bateman the neighbouring villagers, in the course of searching for treasure, had found the skeleton of a
Romanized Briton, extended on its back, accompanied by an '/ W iron spear-head, a lance-head and knife of the same, placed near the head, and three Roman coins, in third brass, namely, one of Constantine the Great, one of Tetricus, the other illegible from the friction of sand-paper applied by the finder. . . . They also found some pieces of a highly-ornamental drinking-cup, a curious piece of iron ore, and various animal bones. 7 In addition to these relics there were found (i) a small stud or circular ornament of amber, perforated with a double hole at the back for attachment, and (2) a large plain urn of globular form, with four holes through the upper edge, and containing burnt human bones, two quartz pebbles, and a piece of flint. Two important gold collars or torques have been found in the county ; one at Pattingham in 1700, mea- suring 2ft. in length, and weighing 3lb. 2oz., and another at Hanbury in 1848, which is now in the royal collections at Windsor Castle. The writer desires to express his thanks for kind assistance to Mr. Charles Lynam, F.S.A., and Mr. Reginald A. Smith, B.A., F.S.A. IRON LANCE-H HAD FOUND AT STONE (f Actual Size) TOPOGRAPHICAL LIST Arch. Journ. = Archaeological "Journal. Arch. = Archaeologia. Evans, Bronze Imp. = Ancient Bronze Implements, &c. By Sir John Evans. Evans, Brit. Coins = Ancient British Coins. By Sir John Evans. Evans, Stone Imp. = Ancient Stone Implements, 2nd ed. By Sir John Evans. ALTON. Perforated stone axe-hammer, in the possession of Mr. Walker of Alton. ALTON Castle. Bronze sword with seven rivet-holes. _Arch. xi, 431 ; Evans, Bronze Imp. 282.] BARLASTON. Bronze bowl with late Celtic ornamentation. [Arch. Ivi, 44, 45.] Celtic Art, 68. r Vestiges of the Antiq. ofDerb. 76-7. 1 80
