Rude Stone Monuments in All Countries/Appendix C
4. 'Correspondenten,' June 23, 1847. — The burial-urn has been found in the grave-chamber. Also have turned up bones of men, horses, dogs, a golden ornament delicately worked, a bone comb, bone buttons, &c.
5. 'Correspondenten,' July 3, 1847. — The gallery has been driven 4 feet farther, thereafter has been made a side gallery, 8 feet wide and 8 feet long, up to the burial-urn. This was found 3 inches under the soil, and was covered with a thin slab. It was 7 inches high, 9 inches in diameter, filled with burnt bones, human and animal (horse, dog, &c.), ashes, charcoal (of needle and leaf trees), nails, copper ornaments, bone articles, a bird of bone, &c. In the mass of charcoal about were found bones, broken ornaments, bits of two golden bracteates, &c. Coins of King Oscar were then placed in the urn, and everything restored as before.
Frey's Howe was opened, and showed the same results.
The gallery remained for some years, and was visited by thousands of persons, but afterwards fell in, and the howe is now inaccessible.
Carl Säve.
Upsala, March 1, 1871.
APPENDIX C.
Since the sheets containing the account of the Scottish monuments were printed off, I have received from Sir Henry Dryden slips of two letters which he addressed to the editor of the John o' Groat's Journal, giving an account of some explorations he had made in Caithness during this autumn. One of these contains an account of certain chapels, brochs, and circles he had examined. The first two classes do not concern us here, and are therefore omitted; but the circles are of interest as probably belonging to the same category as those in the Orkneys, and the description of them is consequently printed with the other letter, which gives an account of four alignments which are so germane to our subject that Sir Henry's description is printed in extenso. The name of the first, "The Battle Moss, Yarhouse," is of itself singularly suggestive, and I have little doubt that, if properly inquired into, the peasantry could tell what battle was fought there, and what, consequently, these lines were erected to commemorate. Taken in conjunction with the horned cairns described by Mr. Anderson,[1] and the circles, it does not seem to me doubtful that the whole of this Caithness group belongs to the tenth century. The circles, and especially the horned cairns, are the exact counterparts of the fanciful forms of the Viking graves found at Hjortehammer (woodcut No. 118) and elsewhere in Scandinavia, which resemble them in more respects than one, and the alignments are such as those at Ashdown (woodcut No. 28). Nor need we go far for the events they commemorate. Between the years 970 and 996, A.D., two great battles, at least, are recorded to have taken place in Caithness, between the sons of Thorfin, and between Liotr, the victor of the tirst fight, and the Scots, who in vain attempted to avenge the death of Skiuli; and besides these there may have been many subordinate frays. It is probable that both brothers were buried in Caithness, and we are distinctly told that Laudver, the last surviving son of Thorfin, was certainly buried there.[2]
232. Horned Cairn, Caithness.
The fact of these alignments and horned cairns and semicircles being unlike what is found elsewhere in Scotland, separates this group from anything existing further south. Their similarity to the Viking graves of Scandinavia, avowedly of the tenth century, points to an age from which they cannot be distant; and when it is recollected that Caithness in the tenth century formed part of the Orcadian Jarldom, it does not seem that we have far to seek for an authentic explanation of all we find in that remote corner of the isle.
TO THE
Editor of the 'John o' Groat's Journal.'
Lines, Cattle Moss, Yarhouse. Lines and Cist, Garry Whin. Lines, "Many Stones," Clyth. Lines, Camster. Circle (?) Achanloch. Circle, Guidebest, Latheronwheel.
Groups of Lines.
I am not aware of any similar groups in Great Britain, though no doubt there are some, and have no books at hand to refer to any in Denmark, Norway, or Sweden. The groups of lines in France (of far larger stones and greater length than those in Caithness) have the largest stones and widest intervals and the highest ground (the heads) to the west or thereabouts, and the smallest stones and narrowest intervals and lowest ground (the tails) to the east or thereabouts. The Caithness groups differ entirely in principle. The one at Yarhouse Loch runs north and south, does not radiate, and is on nearly level ground; but the three others have the narrower intervals and higher ground to the north (which end we may call the head), and radiate towards the south and lower ground. The group at Battlemoss, near Yarhouse, is on ground falling slightly to north-west. It consists of eight lines placed north and south. The width at the south end is forty-four feet. The lines are somewhat irregular, and appear to radiate slightly towards the north, but this is uncertain. One line extends 384 feet, and another one 170 feet, but the remaining six now only extend 133 feet. The ground is covered with peat and heather, and other stones may be hidden below the surface. There is no cairn or other grave now visible in proximity to the lines. The largest stones are about 2 feet 6 inches high, 2 feet 6 inches wide, and 1 foot 3 inches thick.
The group at Garrywhin consists of six lines. The whole width at the head (north-east end) is 50 feet, and at the bottom 107 feet. The central line bears N.N.E. or S.S.W, The length of this line is 200 feet. The fall is 20 feet to the S.S.W. At the head is a cist of slabs 3 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches, and 2 feet 4 inches deep, placed east and west. As this grave is on the highest point of the knoll, and as the lines commence at it, it is fair to presume that they are connected. In the cist were found ashes, pieces of pottery, and flint chips, but no bones. As the cist is between the third and fourth lines, it is fair to presume that there never were more than six lines.
The group called "Many Stones" has the head on the top of a knoll, from which the ground falls on all sides. The lines are on the south slope, and are 22 in number. The width at the head or north end is 118 feet, and at the bottom is 188 feet. The length in the centre is 145 feet, but there is no proof that this was the original length, and the presumption is the reverse. The average bearing is north and south, and the fall 10 feet 3 inches. The largest stones now remaining are about 3 feet high, 3 feet wide, and 1 foot 6 inches thick. There are numerous blocks of stone lying about the head, where, however, the rock is exposed, but the example of Garrywhin makes it probable that a cairn once existed on this knoll. There are no traces of any sunk grave, but the cairn may have contained a chamber above ground, like many in the vicinity.
The group at Camster is on the moor, on ground falling slightly to the south-west. A considerable depth of peat overlies the rock here, and many stones are below the surface. There are now six lines ascertained. The length is 105 feet, width at the head or north end 30 feet, and at the tail or lower end 53 feet. The average bearing is north and south. The stones are smaller than at the last mentioned group. There is no cairn or other grave apparent close to these lines, but in a direction due north, at 346 feet, is a chambered cairn. No stones are now traceable between; but as there are gaps in the lines themselves, this blank interval may once have had lines on it to connect the cairn with the existing group. No habitation now exists near the spot, but there were many in this strath, which may account for destruction of stones in former times. A few hundred feet farther north is the huge horned cairn described by Mr. Anderson, and at 436 feet N.N.E. from the small cairn is the round chambered cairn described in the same paper.
Circle at Achanloch, Estate of Forse, in Parish of Latheron.
The name is spelt Achinloch and Auchinleck. These no doubt are wrong, and probably the name is derived from Gaelic words signifying "The Field at the Loch," or "The Field of the Stones," from these standing stones. The place is close to the new road from Lybster to Thurso. This series of standing-stones, entitled "circle," as a class-name, is in the form of a donkey's shoe, the length being N.N.W, and S.S.E., the open end to the latter. The sides are nearly parallel. The area is covered with heather and peat, on a substratum of rock of the slaty character common to the district. The ground falls from the area to the west, north, and east. In the latter direction, the ground falls only for a short distance, and then rises to much higher ground. On the north-east, at 700 feet or 800 feet, is the loch of Stemster.
There is no evidence that the two south ends were ever joined by a straight or curved line of stones; and as the sides are of equal length, we may infer that they never were joined, though possibly intended App. C. antiquities of CAITHNESS. 531
to be so. The highest point of the area is about 13 feet above the hollow on the east. This donkey-shoe-shaped series of stones is 220 feet long;, and 110 feet wide in the middle, inside measure. The two extremities are 85 feet 3 inches apart.
There are now 36 stones existing, of wliich only one is duwn ; but by filling up intervals at usual distances, it appears tlicre were .54 stones, supposing the lower end vacant as now. The average interval seems to have been 8 feet. The highest stone is 5 feet 7 inches high above ground ; the widest 5 feet 4 inches ; and the thickest 1 foot 7 inches.
All these stones are of a slaty character, and have their sides parallel, so that in width (long sides) they are generally three or f nir times their thickness (short sides). But the singular characteristic of this series is that the stones are set with their long sides at right angles to the curve, projecting like cogs of a wheel.
In many circles some or all of the stones have no decided difference in the measures of width and thickness ; but in all cases, when I have found a difference, the long sides are in the line of the curve.
Any notice of an arrangement similar to that at Achanloch would be a favour.
There is no appearance of any part of the area having been disturbed for burial or other purposes. There is a ruin of a chambered cairn south-ea>.t of the circle; and in the loch of Eangag, about a mile west, is the remain of a brous:h.
Circle at Guidebest, Latheeonavheel, Parish of LATHER0>i.
The place is on the north bank of the burn, one mile and a half up the strath. The circle is nearly true in form, and though now imper- fect, doubtless was once complete. It is 170 feet in diameter. The area is flat, covered with heather and peat, on a substratum of rock in some places, and of alluvial gravel in others. It is 15 feet above the brook, which has washed away the cliif very close up to the south- west stone, and appears likely, imless prevented, to dislocate the stones on that side.
There are now only seven stones existing — all erect — and by filling up the gaps at usual distances there were thirteen stones. The average interval seems to have been 45 feet. The highest stone is 5 feet 3 inches above ground; the widest 3 feet 2 inches; and the tliickest 1 foot 10 inches. The stone is of the common argillaceous slate of the district.
The stones are neaier square or circular in plan than those at Achanloch, but (so far as they can be) are all set with the long sides to the curve. The south stone is a little beyond the line of the ciiclo, but is evidently a moved and erected stone.
2 31 2 There are numbers of stones lying about the area; but no evidence of a cairn or other burial-place in or near the circle. From its soil, and the absence of remains, it was probably not sepulchral, though some antiquaries hold that all circles are sepulchral.
Lower down the strath on the same side of the brook were many circles which were destroyed in "improving" the land some years ago. These are stated to have been 20 or 30 yards across, of stones 2 feet to 4 feet high. No remains are known to have been found in them; but no observations or measures were made. It is probable that these circles were sepulchral — the absence of stones in the centres notwithstanding. Nearer the road and shore are other remains of broughs, cairns, cists, &c.
I remain your obedient servant,
H. Dryden,
Hon. Mem. of the Soc. of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Caithness, September 21, 1871.
233. Dolmen near Bona, Algeria.