The bronze age and the Celtic world - Universal History Library

THE PROSPECTORS 55
antechambers in Syria before 4000 b.c. Rock-cut tombs and dolmens, dating from
before and just after the discovery of metal, are not uncommon in some parts of this
region/^
Some years ago Professor Fleure was engaged in a detailed survey of the physical
characters of the present inhabitants of Wales, and the results of this inquiry were
pubhshed in 1916.** Among the many types noted was one which is of special interest
in this connection. He describes it as : " powerfully built, often intensely dark,
broad-headed, broad-faced, strong and square jawed men characteristic of the Ardudwy
coast, the south Glamorgan coast, the Newquay district (Cardiganshire), Pencaer in
north Pembrokeshire, and other places."^' He states in another place ; " We found
our dark, stalwart, broad-headed men on certain coastal patches, often curiously
associated with megaliths in Wales."^" Later on he states that a similar type has been
noted in Ireland, about Wicklow, in South Devon, and perhaps Cornwall, in the gulf
of Saint Brieuc, around Narbonne, in the Asturias and around Oviedo, on the
Andalusian coast from Motril to Moguer, in the gulf of Salerno and thence past the gulf
of Taranto to Bari, on the Adriatic.^'
It will thus be seen that this type appears to occur in just those regions in which
megahths and traces of early mining have been found. The inference Fleure has drawn
is that in some way these people were connected with the ancient trade we have been
discussing. 3^ Though I cannot find that he has published the fact, Fleure has told me
that he has noted the type in many of our commercial centres, especially in sea-port
towns. It is not uncommon in Liverpool, especially in shipping circles.
Some years previous to the publication of Fleure's paper I had noted in Athens,
in the restaurant at which I usually lunched, a type which I was unable to place among
those described by Ripley. I noted, too, that they looked prosperous and were evidently
well-off. Early in 1914 I noted the same type in Alexandria, especially common among
'7 Macalister (1912) 12-20.
as Fleure and James (1916).
«9 Fleure and James (1916) 117.
30 Fleure and James (1916) 137.
31 Fleure and James (1916) 138.
3s Fleure and James (1916) 139 ; Fleure (1918) 1. 16 ; Fleure (1918) 2. 222, 223.