ON THE TUMUU OF ST. ADHILli'S HEAD DISTRICT. 41 



ten feet in height. The work was commenced at the east side, 

 where a portion had been previously removed, with a trench of 

 six paces broad, which was intended to have been cut completely 

 through. I should here observe, that the whole barrow was 

 composed of a clay-like earth, which had become so compact and 

 hardened, as to require the constant application of the pick-axe 

 in its removal, and was wholly cased over with six inches of 

 stones. At the early commencement of the work were found, 

 amongst these stones, at one spot only, several pieces of appa^ 

 rently i2<)7na» pottery, a portion of a metal clasp, (fig. 3,) a 

 small stud, (fig. 5,) a piece of iron, pieces of Kimmeridge 

 coal, charcoal, a few fragments of bone, and some blue pebbles. 

 Here, at the distance of seven feet from the centre of the barrow, 

 the original plan of proceeding with the excavation was pre- 

 vented from being continued, by the discovery of the foot-stones 

 of a kistvaen ^ or stone coflin, which proved to be the first of a 

 series of seven, placed in two rows, at the depth of only two feet 

 beneath the apex of the barrow. These all contained skeletons, 

 lying with the head towards the south west, and the feet towards 

 the north east. It will be observed, that the distances between 

 these kistvaens were not the same. All were in the north 

 segment of the barrow. The following description of these 

 interments commences with the northernmost. 



No. 1. A kistvaen, formed by stones, similar to those 

 now denominated curbSj and a thin flag stone set edgeways at 

 the head. It contained a full length skeleton, with the head 

 leaning towards and resting upon the left shoulder. There was 

 no protection over this deposit. 



No. 2. A kistvaen, formed in the same manner as the last, 

 but covered with thin flat stones, presenting when the super- 

 imposed earth was removed the appearance of a perfect stone 

 coffin. Its measurements inside were, five feet in length, sixteen 

 inches in width at the widest part, and thirteen inches in depth. 

 It contained a skeleton, which measured four feet in length, with 

 the head leaning over the right shoulder. With this deposit 

 was foimd a flint Arrow head.^ (fig. 11.) The intermediate 



7 Kistvaen is derived from the words Kiti or Cist^ which in Welch 

 means a chest or coffinj and vaeuj itone, 



8 Chippings of chalk flints, such as might be formed into arrow- 

 heads, frequently occur in the barrows of this neighbourhood ; and, io 



