But, to
produce bronze, we know tin is just as necessary as copper--and all the
countries of Europe are not provided with these metals; so more or less
trade would inevitably take place. In various ways the stores of the
bronze merchant might be lost, and only revealed in after years by
accident. One of these deposits, found in France, is evidently the store
of a merchant or trader from Etruria to the tribes of the north and
west, and so gives us a quite vivid idea of the trade of that early
time. It consisted of over four hundred articles of bronze, "comprising
knives, sickles, lance-heads, horse-bits, rings, buttons, pendants, and
bracelets."<20>

As an article of adornment, amber was highly prized, not only by the
people of Europe during the Bronze Age, but also by the people of
the preceding Neolithic Age. This caused a trade to spring up which
certainly did its share in enlightening the people. The main supply must
have been obtained from the shores of the Baltic. That the trade was of
importance is evidenced by the fact that amber has been found scattered
over Europe in the tombs of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

We have given a passing glance at the religion of each age we have
examined. It must be confessed that great uncertainty hangs over the
results. From a close examination of their industries, we can
gather considerable as to the home life and general enlightenment of
prehistoric times. A knowledge of religious belief is gathered mainly
from a study of their burial customs. This is a very important part of
our investigation, because a religious belief is one of the exponents of
the culture of a people.

We have seen that in the Neolithic Age the dead were buried surrounded
by implements, weapons, and ornaments for use in the future life. The
descendants of these people throughout Europe, even in the Bronze Age,
would still continue this custom. The implements buried with the body
were more often of stone than bronze. We must constantly bear in mind
that bronze was costly. This will explain its absence in many cases. It
is interesting to note in this connection that these are "cases in which
it is evident that flint implements were deposited in graves rather in
deference to ancient customs than because they were still in every-day
use."<21> We also notice that during this age, often the objects placed
in the graves were, from their shape, obviously not intended for daily
use. This would clearly indicate