The bronze age and the Celtic world - Universal History Library

32
THE BRONZE AGE AND THE CELTIC WORLD
culture and a slightly later civilisation known as East Scandinavian or Arctic, which
has been found at several sites associated with skulls of Mongoloid t5^e, I have
suggested that in the Maglemose people we may perhaps see the first arrival in Europe
of that Mongoloid race, which now peoples a large part of the north-east of the
continent. My suggestion has not been well received in Scandinavian circles, and
M. Nordmann has submitted it to very searching though courteous criticism.'*
While duly appreciating the value of all the evidence he has cited, I am still of opinion
that my view, though far from proved, meets the existing evidence as well as, if not
better than, its rivals.
The importance of the Maglemose problem for our purpose lies in the fact that
certain sites in the British Isles have produced an industry which has been claimed,
and perhaps rightly, to be akin to that of Mullerup amd Svaerdborg. Certain
discoveries in the caves at Oban and on a raised beach on the island of Oronsay, are
claimed to be of this or of Azilian culture,''^ while other finds at Holdemess are said
to resemble more closely still the Maglemose culture. ''* More recently still Mr. O. G. S.
Crawford has suggested that certain implements, which he and I discovered last year
at an early occupation site on the Newbury Sewage outfall works at Thatcham, Berks.,
bear close resemblances to some found at Svaerdborg.'^
It is too soon yet to appraise the value of these resemblances. Some of these
sites, notably those at Oronsay and Thatcham, appear on some grounds to be somewhat
later than the settlements at Mullerup and Svaerdborg. This does not, of course,
disprove their cultural connection. It is unwise, at present, to draw any positive
conclusions from such evidence, but we may note that it is possible that during late
Azilian times, or perhaps later still, fresh elements entered the British Isles from the
Baltic region, and that it is at least possible that these elements may have been of
the Mongoloid race.
People showing slight Mongoloid traits may be found sporadically throughout
Wales, though, as far as I can ascertain, this type has not been noted as prevalent
in any particular areas ; how far it may be noted in the west of Scotland or in Ireland
I am uncertain. But we cannot be sure that the introduction of this Mongoloid strain
?« Nordmann (1922). 74 Burkitt (1921) 1. 108, 155.
73 Macalister (1921) 1. 533-535. 75 Peake & Crawford (1922).