In the numerous caves of Wales, on the other hand, which I have explored, there is no trace of inhabitants of the fifth and sixth centuries, a circumstance that is easily accounted for by the fact that Wales was not invaded at that time by the English. There would therefore be no reason for the civilized Brit-Welsh to fly to caves for refuge.
Principal Animals and Articles in Brit-Welsh Caves.
The following are the more important animals and articles found in the group of caves under consideration. The species are identical with those which I have tabulated from refuse-heaps of Roman age.[81]
List of Principal Animals and Objects found in Brit-Welsh Strata in Caves.
| Animals. | Victoria | Kelko | Dowker Bottom. | Kirk- head. | Poole’s Cavern. | Thor’s Cave. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic. | ||||||
| Canis familiaris—Dog | X | X | X | X | X | ? |
| Sus scrofa—Pig | X | X | X | X | X | ? |
| Equus caballus—Horse | X | X | X | X | X | ? |
| Bos longifrons—Celtic Short-horn | X | X | X | X | X | ? |
| Capra hircus—Goat | X | X | X | X | X | ? |
| Wild. | ||||||
| Canis vulpes—Fox | X | ... | X | X | X | ? |
| Meles taxus—Badger | X | ... | X | ... | ... | x |
| Cervus elaphus—Stag | X | ... | X | X | X | ? |
| Cervus capreolus—Roe | X | ... | X | X | ... | ? |
| Roman coins or imitations | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Enamelled ornaments in bronze | X | X | X | X | ... | ... |
| Bronze ornaments inlaid with silver | X | X | X | ... | X | ... |
| Iron articles | X | X | X | ... | X | X |
| Samian ware | X | ... | X | ... | X | X |
| Black ware | X | X | X | ... | X | X |
| Bone-spoon fibulæ ([Fig. 22]) | X | X | X | ... | ... | ... |
| Bone combs | X | X | X | ... | ... | X |
All the less important animals and articles are omitted from this list. It will be observed that the brown bear, the wolf, and the fallow-deer are absent. The brown bear was probably at this time very rare in Britain, since its remains have been met with in but two out of the many Roman refuse-heaps in the country, at London and Colchester. The well-known lines of Martial, however, imply that it was imported from Britain to Rome at this time—
“Nuda Caledonio sic pectora præbuit urso,
Haud falsa pendens in cruce Laureolus.”
It probably became extinct about the ninth or tenth century. The wolf obviously would not be likely to be used for food, although it probably was abundant in the district. The fallow-deer also had not penetrated into the hilly districts, although it had become naturalized in this country by the Romans, so as to have been frequently used as an article of food before the English invasion. I have seen its characteristic antlers in refuse-heaps, both in London and Colchester, which have furnished Roman coins and pottery.
The beaver was probably very rare in the fifth and sixth centuries, and has been met with in no cave-deposit, either historic or prehistoric, in this country. It was, however, known to the Anglian conquerors of Yorkshire (Northumbria), who called Beverley (lea, leag-) after its name.