Page:Rude Stone Monuments.djvu/547

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App. A.
GLEN COLUMBKILLE.
521

than in others. I shall speak of the groups as they are marked by letters in a plan I made for my own use on the spot.

D. This group, which is that nearest the sea on the south side of the river, consists of six cromlechs, arranged in line, with considerable intervals. A few yards west of this group are several mounds of stones with some large blocks amongst them, but no blocks more than 4 feet long. These extend for some 50 yards in line from west to east. A few yards above them is a large pile of stones, in the midst of which is a stone 6 feet high and 3 feet wide. These heaps have been augmented by stones collected from the fields, but I think there are indications that they were originally of the nature of the cromlechs.

There are six cromlechs, and from the first the other five are in sight. The line in which they are placed along the glen side is not quite straight. The westernmost cromlech is some yards south of the others, and the west to east line is not exact with regard to the others, but is nowhere so much departed from as with the first pile. The first is about half a mile from the sea. I shall describe them from west to east.

223. Plan of the Uprights of Cromlech D I.

I. This was a cromlech of five huge stones and a top. The top stone has fallen to westward, and the uprights are all somewhat displaced. Three of the upright stones are still erect; two are fallen, but not quite to the ground. At the west end are some smaller blocks and another slab. These are hidden by small stones and earth; I think there were two support stones and a slab. After examining all the monuments of the two glens, I came to the conclusion that this (D I.) was a cromlech with a stone chamber beside it. There is a space 2 feet 6 inches wide between the two tallest uprights. The annexed plan shows the arrangement of the uprights. The top slab has fallen over e; d and e are fallen; a, b, and c are upright, but slant more or less. The dimensions are:–

Ft. In.

(a) Height 12 9

Breadth 9 4

Thickness (about) 3 0

Widest girth 23 0

(a) slants somewhat to westward; the height from its tip to the ground is 10 feet 2 inches.

(b) Height 7 5

Breadth 4 3

Thickness 2 0

(b) from tip perpendicular the height is 6 feet 6 inches.

(c) Height 7 0

Breadth 2 10

Thickness 1 0

(d) Length 10 0

Breadth 5 0

Thickness 2 0

(e) Length 7 0

(e) is hard to measure, as it lies under earth, stones, and the top slab.