19
perforation. In Britain and many parts of Europe, tombs and
blocks of rock are often pitted with holes. These are known as
Fig. 19. Holed Dolmen.
" cup-marks " and are in some parts, at certain times, filled with
butter or lard, presumably as offerings to the souls of the dead.
This superstition has been incorporated, like many others, with
Christianity, and in many churches in Germany and Sweden
holes were made in the stones of the walls. Strange customs and
practices have become connected with these holes, such as blowing
into them as a remedy for maladies and epidemics. Other holed
stones exist, through which it has been the custom to pass the
hand in making a contract as a sign of fidelity, and from this is
to be traced the use of our wedding-ring. The broken-ring was
also recognised by the early builders of the tumuli, and around
their barrows is usually found a trench or a circle of stones
which is incomplete. The same feature exists on many of the
incised stones. This idea has come down to us in the supersti-
tion attaching to the Horseshoe which is so commonly found
nailed to the door of the house as a protection against witches
or for bringing good luck.
Another kind of lucky stone is the fossil Echinus. In Essex
these objects are called Fairy-loaves, and many people keep them
in their cottages in the belief that their presence ensures a plentiful
supply of bread. In the Romano-British villages they were
collected, but for what purpose is not clear. That they were
regarded with some superstitious respect by early man is shown
by the interesting discovery made by Mr. Worthington Smith of
a barrow containing the bones of a young woman and child,
which was surrounded by a ring formed of about 500 of these
fossil echini. (See fig. 20).
Fish-hooks of Wood. Fish-hooks made from the white-
thorn are at the present time used by the fishermen on the coast