In Garton Slack and Wetwang Slack, which together constitute one stretch of a dry valley to the west of Driffield, gravel extraction over 20 years has resulted in the excavation of a large part of an extensive Iron Age settlement.

Roads and ditches formed a focus for scores of buildings—roundhouses and post squares—as well as a cemetery of 446 inhumations in the ‘Arras Culture’ tradition and the first cart burial (in 1971) to be excavated under modern conditions (Dent, 1982, 1983; Brewster, 1971; 1981; Stead, 1984). Startling though many of these finds were, none exceeded the discovery of a group of three cart burials in the summer of 1984.

The first grave was discovered by the quarry manager, Mick Ward, who recognized it as a cart burial (he had seen the 1971 find, as well as numerous other burials in the valley) when the dark discolouration of the fill appeared in the quarry face and part of one tyre and the skull were exposed. He reported his discovery at once and I visited the site the same afternoon. The part of the quarry where the find was made had been stripped of topsoil a week or two earlier.

The Early Palaeolithic of Japan may be defined as comprised of any assemblage which occurs before 30,000 years BP, i.e., prior to the formation of Tachikawa loam formation of the Kanto region (Serizawa, 1970, Ikawa Smith, 1978, 247-86). It has been the subject of controversy since the Palaeolithic period was recognized in Japan following discoveries at Iwajuku in 1949 (Sugihara, 1956). Early in the history of subsequent research, debate arose as to the date of man's arrival in the archipelago. This debate is of importance to a wider audience for a number of reasons. First, Japan is located in a region which has traditionally been associated as a source area for the peopling of the New World—early dates claimed for occupation in America should then, perhaps, be relatable to similar finds and dates in Japan. Secondly, there is now increasing evidence for relative early dates of occupation in Siberia. (Boriskovskij, 1978, 27; Yi and Clark, 1983; Okladnikov and Pospelova, 1982). These may find supportive evidence from neighbouring lands. Thirdly, it is interesting from the point of view of hominid evolution to know how far populations of Homo erectus and archaic Homo sapiens had spread in East Asia and what form their adaptations took. Additionally, Japan is a relatively well-explored and published source of data in a poorly known region of the World and may be useful as a source for deriving analogies and ideas in interpreting lithic material, particularly in countries such as Korea where palaeolithic research is still in its infancy (Hwang, 1979; Kim, 1983).

In its developed or final form Maiden Castle, some two miles (3.2 km) south-west of Dorchester in Dorset, is an iron age hillfort, of great complexity, which takes in two knolls of a saddle-backed spur of Upper Chalk, the highest point of which is about 440 ft (c. 134 m) above OD. The defences enclose47 acres (c. 18 ha) and consist of three banks and two ditches with an additional bank inserted along most of the south side. There are two entrances, at the east and at the west, each with double openings elaborately defended by outworks. The outstandingly imposing character of Maiden Castle is derived from the size and complexity of these earthwork defences rather than from its altitude or the natural defensive advantages of its position. Ptolemy has been thought to supply a hint as to the ancient name of Maiden Castle. The conventional identification of Roman Dnrchester is with the Durnovania of the Antonine Itinerary. Ptolemy omits that placename, but mentions Dunium in the same region as the one city apparently worthy of mention in the territory of the Durotriges (Geographia I, 103, ed. C Müller (1883)). Dunium was long ago identified with Maiden Castle. This may well be so, although recently Hod Hill and Hengistbury have also been put forward as possibilities. Part of the hillfort lies on the site of a neolithic causewayed enclosure and it also surrounds a unique ‘long-mound’ of the same period, a bronze age round barrow and the foundations of a Romano-British temple and accompanying buildings.

Aïda est en effet un produit de mon travail; c'est moi qui ai d#x00E9;cidé le Vice-Roi à en ordonner la représentation; Aïda, en un mot, est sortie de mon cerveau, et il me semble qu'avant d'en disposer aussi complètement, on me devait au moins la déférence de m'en écnire (Mariette, 1871a).

Auguste Mariette, born in Boulogne-sur-Mer on 11 February 1821, is one of the most endearing characters of Egyptology. Very far ahead of his time, he did all he could to prevent Egypt being further plundered by archaeologists, and to enable it to learn how to conserve its treasures and use them to its advantage. He was given the title of Bey after his discovery of the Memphis Serapeum, and was later raised to the high rank of Pacha, a rare distinction for foreigners, on 5 June 1879. He died on 18 January 1881, and was buried at Boulaq, afterwards Cairo. A monument in his honour was set up in his native town which held glittering celebrations on the centenary of his death.

Like the wreck Port Vendres II the new wreck of Port Vendres III was broken in many pieces and neither the form of the ship nor the position of its cargo could be observed. The two shipwrecks were certainly caused by the same forces: a ship blown by a very strong wind (Tramontane) from the nearby mountains sought shelter in the natural harbour of Port Vendres. Once inside the harbour it would be unable to change direction and, driven on to the rocks at a place called Redoute Bear, broke up.

At present the Port Vendres III level forms a layer which averages about 10 cm in thickness and covers an area of 25 sq. m with a maximum thickness of 40 cm. This layer is not continuous and is found at depths varying between 5 and 7 m, and at a distance from 5 to 25 m from the coast. Covered by a carpet of Posidonia and sea shells of varying thickness, this site is separated in general from the Port Vendres II site by the same plants, but in places only the type of potsherd allowed us to distinguish one layer from the other as they are in direct contact (FIG. I)