that the popular mind became impressed
with the fact that these votive offerings, however freely given, could
be of no assistance to the departed, but they still continued the custom
because it was sanctioned by usage of past years.

But the dead were not always buried during the Bronze Age, nor, indeed,
as a general rule. The invading race doubtless brought with them a new
religion. Many of the ornamentations on their swords, vases, and other
articles, are supposed by some writers to be religious symbols. From the
frequent occurrence of the circle, and combinations of circles, it
has been suggested that they worshiped the sun. And the occurrence of
customs observable even at a late day, in various portions of Europe, as
pointed out by Prof. Nelson, show that the worship of the fire-god, or
the sun, was once widely extended in Europe.<22> On this point we are
further told: "That even as late as the time of Canute the Great,<23>
there is a statute forbidding the adorement of the sun and the
moon."<24> So it is not strange that in the new faith a different method
of burial would be followed. That was by cremation. "The dead were
burned, were purified by being passed through the fire along with their
possessions."<25> The ashes was then gathered together and placed in
urns and burial mounds and barrows. The votive offerings of flint and
bronze articles in daily use were also thrown in the fire, and their
burnt remains placed with the other ashes in the burial urn. The cut is
that of a bell-shaped barrow of the Bronze Age.

Illustration of a Burial Mound.-----------------

We have just seen what inferences have been drawn from the use of the
circle as an ornament. This is not the only sign that has been thought
to have some symbolical meaning. The cross was also used as an ornament,
and possessed probably some religious significance. A third figure which
has caused some discussion was the triangle. "It is, on the whole, very
probable that all these signs, which are not connected with any known
object, bear some relation to certain religious or superstitious ideas
entertained by the men of the Bronze epoch, and, as a consequence of
this, that their hearts must have been inspired with some degree of
religious feeling."<26>

Illustration of Avebury Restored.-------------

We have mentioned the use of stone circles in Neolithic times. During
the Bronze Age they built the circle very large, sometimes twelve
hundred