Such weapons, however, were doubtless intended for the use of the chieftains only, and were probably employed as insignia of rank alone.

They are still discovered in the barrows which cover the remains of the early chieftains; though it is possible that they may really belong to the monuments of a yet earlier race.

But iron was certainly employed by the English, at least, from about the first century of the Christian era, and its use was perhaps introduced into the marshlands of Sleswick by the Germanic conquerors of the north.

Even at this early date, abundant proof exists of mercantile intercourse with the Roman world (probably through Pannonia), whereby the alien culture of the south was already engrafted in part upon the low civilisation of the native English.

Amber was then exported from the Baltic, while gold, silver, and glass beads were given in return.