The Orkneys in early Celtic times : two lectures / by James M. MacBeath.

  • MacBeath, James M.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Orkneys in early Celtic times : two lectures / by James M. MacBeath. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    47/120 (page 27)
    Does it not amount to an anomaly that, while during the past fifty years great interest has been shown, and public money expended on the elucidation of our earliest historic period, yet it has been left almost exclusively to the private enterprise and zeal of the several Antiquarian Societies of Scotland to investigate the prehistoric era 1 Seeing the public favour has been extended to the former, there does not seem any satisfactory reason why it should be withheld from the latter. Presumably the time is not far distant, however, when whatever can in any way throw light on the study of prehistoric times will be carefully preserved for future investigation. It is becoming more and more apparent, that unless what remains be treasured as containing early relics of great scientific value, the sources whence our increase of knowledge on the past phases of human civilization can alone come will have perished for ever. This care has been extended to the grave mounds of Ancient Scandinavia ; and there does not seem any insuperable reason why a like service should not be rendered to the northern division and islands of Ancient Alba.