e
discoveries at an early time, but until more evidence is forthcoming the
period to which these lake-dwellers belong must remain uncertain.

A list of the bones discovered includes the following:--

Human (of at least four individuals).
Deer (of three species).
Horse (a small variety), numerous.
Ox (Bos longifrons), numerous.
Sheep (straight-horned), numerous.
Goat (one skull).
Pig (both wild and domesticated).
Wolf.
Fox.
Otter.
Beaver (one skull).
Voles (of different kinds).
Birds.

[Illustration: Some examples of remains of Pre-historic Animals discovered
in the Lake Dwellings by the river Costa.

The skull of a Wolf.
Part of the horns of a Great Palmated Deer.
Part of the skull of a Straight-horned Sheep.
The skull of a Bos Longifrons or Pre-historic Ox.
]

The introduction of metal into Britain was due to the successive waves of
Celtic Aryans who by means of their bronze weapons were able to overcome
the Neolithic people. The Brythons or Britons, one of these Celtic
peoples, seem to have succeeded in occupying the whole of England. They
buried their dead in the round barrows which are to be found in most parts
of the country but are particularly numerous on the hills immediately
surrounding Pickering and on the wolds to the south of the Vale.

Some of the round barrows, as already mentioned, contain no traces of
metal but in a number of those near Pickering have been found bronze Celts
and spear-heads accompanied by beautifully finished weapons of stone.
There can be no doubt, therefore, that the use of metal crept in slowly,
and that stone, horn and bone continued to be used for many centuries
after its introduction.

The Celtic people were possessed of a civilisation infinitely more
advanced than that of the Neolithic or Iberian races. They were the
ancestors of the "Ancient Britons" who offered such a stout resistance to
the Roman legions under Julius Caesar.

Not only are there innumerable barrows or burial mounds constructed by
this early race on the hills above the Vale, but on Beacon Hill, the
slight eminence just to the west of Pickering Castle, at Cawthorne and
also at Cropton, there are evidences of what may be their fortifications,
while the plough is continually bringing to light more relics of the
period. A fine collection of these have been brought together and are to
be seen in Mr T. Mitchelson's private museum near Pickering Church. Two
large case