Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/166

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148
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRIMEVAL ANTIQUITIES


Position of Vase and Bones in the Cromlech at L'ancresse

The same appearances are observed over various parts of the common. Immediately below was found stone-rubbish, and portions of the sides of the cromlech, which had at some distant period fallen in; this was accompanied by animal bones, these were chiefly of the horse, the ox, and boars' tusks. After this followed a dark stratum, containing limpet shells, broken pottery, stones worn on two sides by rubbing for grinding processes, which were called mullers,
Grinding trough and stone implements in the Cromlech at L'ancresse
portions of stone troughs used for pounding, flat stone quoits, animal bones burnt, and stone hammers. The lowest bed now appeared, in which were found jars and vessels of sun-baked pottery, human bones, burnt and unburnt, mixed with smooth pebbles of dark blue sienite and greenstone, flint arrow-heads, and stone celts. The mass in the centre of the cromlech lay in greater confusion and disturbance than the substances which were found near the sides. On the south side a flat slab of granite was discovered; it was supported upon small blocks, having the appearance of a diminutive cromlech, and as the inside was still unmolested and free, the first complete jar was removed carefully, with stone and bone ornaments and clay beads. It was then observed that this lowest stratum lay upon a flat pavement of rude flags of granite, and that the jars and bones were placed in distinct heaps on the floor of the cromlech, and that the rolled pebbles mentioned above had been used to separate them in detached spots. The vessels contained only the dark mass which had fallen in, mixed with limpet shells, but in no instance could be perceived the least