The bronze age and the Celtic world - Universal History Library

102 THE BRONZE AGE AND THE CELTIC WORLD
"finger-tip ware," that is to say pottery ornamented with raised ribs of clay and
finger-tip impressions. Now such pottery is found, it is true, in the neoUthic age in this
country, but it died out about the time of the arrival of the Beaker-folk, when
cord-ornamented pottery came into fashion. On the other hand in Central Europe,
FIG. l8.—DEVEREL-RIMBURY URNS.
and especially in the region where the mountain
zone blends with the plain, such pottery remained
in use continuously from the neolithic, through the
bronze, to the early iron age.
That such pottery came to this country with
a fresh people is clear from the foregoing evidence,
and that they entered armed and by force is
equally clear from the presence of the numerous
swords of this date which have been found. That
they came in considerable numbers and came to
stay is also shown from the number of settlements, and from the later occurrence of
this finger-tip ware at such sites as All Cannings Cross" in Wiltshire, where this
culture lasted until well after 500 B.C.
Some of the best examples of this finger-tip pottery are the
urns found in Wessex, which are called the Deverel-Rimbury
type, and which are dated by Lord Abercromby*" as lasting
from 950 to 650 B.C. Crawford, following Dechelette, brings in
his invasion about 800 e.g., or rather later, and, though we
may find grounds for beUeving that their arrival may have
been earher it looks as though the finger-tip pottery of the
Deverel-Rimbury tj^pe may have been here before the coming
of the people with the Type G Swords. Be that as it may,
we learn from Lord Abercromby that in the south of England
FIG. 19.—URN OF TYPE 3.
several types of pottery preceded the Deverel-Rimbury tj^e, the one immediately
preceding it being his Type 3, which he beheves to have been in use between 1150 and
950 B.C., if not earher.^' Many of these, such as those from Wiltshire, Nos. 373, 374
79 Cunnington {1922).
8" Abercromby (1912) ii. 40-48, 107.
' Abercromby {1912) ii. 38-40, 47, 107.