A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE Socketed Cf//j.— Marton, Ribble, Walton-le-Dale, Winmarleigh, Win- wick. Weapons. — (a) Knives : Darwen, Haulgh. (b) Daggers : Colne Winmarleigh, Win wick. (c) Spear-heads : Irlam, Leigh, Piethorne, Walton-le-Dale, Winmarleigh. Over Sands. — (a) Palstaves : Flookburgh, Kirkhead. (b) Celts : Cartmel, Furness, Gleaston Castle, Kirkhead, Little Urswick, Stainton, (c) Weapons : Dalton, Kirkhead, Leece, Little Urswick. III. INTERMENTS AND BURIAL URNS Without considering the whole subject of Bronze and Stone Age burials It would not be possible with the evidence accessible to discriminate between the periods of the early interments in Lancashire of which there is record. Those who have given to this branch of the subject their closest attention find in it great difficulties, and differ among themselves in their interpretation of the results. In general there is a disposition to draw hard and fast lines between different types of interment as representing different and distinct epochs of culture and development, which the evidence of observation does not warrant. The Lancashire burials do not help to solve the great problem, but partake fully of its difficulties. The great area of flint chippings in the south-east of the county, which we have accepted as evidence of a settled stone-working people in a neolithic age, is still without any representative and analagous class of recorded burials. A number of burial mounds, indeed, with interments apparently all by cremation, are found about these hills, but the urns found in these, the stone circles, and other features, are for the most part of the type usually assigned to the Bronze Age, and indeed here and there a small pin or other object of bronze has confirmed the date. But not even small pieces of metal are found upon these ' neolithic floors.' Looking at the problem of the settlements and culture-phases of early man in Lancashire with due regard to the physical features of the county, the possibility must be admitted of an even broader overlap of Bronze and Stone Age than is usually conceded. The aboriginal workers of stone may have still retained their homes upon the eastern hills, while elsewhere, nearer the coast or upon the river valleys, bronze-using man gradually made his way ; possibly the use of bronze might find its way without ethnical movement. However that may be, unfortunately we can only admit the insufficiency of local evidence. Hence in regard to these interments, those which bear trace only of stone implements are distinguished from those showing bronze, as belonging possibly but not necessarily to an earlier phase of culture development and ar. antecedent population. I. Interments with Associated Stone Deposits On Hades Hill, near Rochdale, in a depression which separates that hill from Rough Hill, 1,380 ft. above sea level, an approximately round, but deformed, barrow has been explored. Its dimensions give 52 ft. north to 238
