Page:Prehistoric Britain.djvu/224

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PREHISTORIC BRITAIN

acteristic of those within the Scottish area. But in all other respects they are so similar that their development can hardly be accounted for, except on the supposition of their having a common origin. These trivial differences may be explained by the Roman occupation, the effect of which was to isolate the people of outlying districts, who for a long time retained old British customs, after they were discontinued in the central areas of Britain, in consequence of Roman civilization.

The Hill-fort of Carn Brê, a conspicuous landmark to the east of Chûn Castle and rising to the height of 740 feet, is crowned by a fort strongly protected by inner and outer walls of dry stone. The greatest length of the defensible area is 540 yards and its width is nearly 300 yards. Some years ago extensive excavations were made within this enclosure, mainly with the view of determining the nature of some dozen hut-circles to be seen among some large boulders which lay partly sunk in the ground. But instead of a few nearly a hundred were exposed and examined. The dwellings were rudely circular, generally from 20 to 22 feet in diameter, and their foundations were laid with granite stones. The following is a summary of the objects found in the course of the explorations:

Flint implements and weapons—scrapers, knives, spear-heads and arrow-points. Cores, flakes and chips in great profusion. Upper portion of a quern, pebbles for pounding or