64 Mr. G. Tate on Cist-vaens and Sepulchral Urns. 



The Cist (No. 2.) is very rudely constructed ; it is double, or 

 divided by a flag into two compartments ; one being 3 feet 

 6 inches by 2 feet 3 inches, and the other 2 feet 6 inches by 

 2 feet : one large slab covers both. The general direction is 

 from W. 85° S. to E. 85° N. In the south compartment the 

 urn was found, 12 inches from the west end, as indicated in 

 the plan. 



The Cist (No. 3.) is 3 feet 6 inches by 1 foot 10 inches, and 

 lies in the direction of S.W. by W. to N.E. by E. The Cist 

 (No. 4.) is 1 foot 10 inches by 1 foot 4 inches, having a direction 

 of N. to S. ; another small Cist (No. 5.) nearly adjoins this, 

 and lies in the same direction. No urns were found in any of 

 these, but several fragments of bones, in a decomposed state, 

 were mixed with the clay ; one of them was recognised as a por- 

 tion of a human rib. 



Careful search was made in the clay, soil and gravel, but no 

 coins or other remains of art were discovered. 



The urns have been made of the clay which occurs in the 

 neighbourhood ; and no great care has been taken in its prepa- 

 ration, for fragments of pebbles can be seen where the urns are 

 fractured. They have evidently been baked in the fire : the ex- 

 terior surfaces are red- brown, the interior is more or less black ; 

 the exterior may be scratched with the nail, but the long action 

 of water may have produced a softening, as the interior black 

 portion is much harder. 



The urn (Plate V.) found in the largest Cist-vaen is harder, 

 more brittle, and smoother on the surface than the other ; it 

 has probably been fashioned with the lathe ; it is also more 

 elegant in shape and elaborate in workmanship. Although 

 broken on one side, enough remains to show its form and orna- 

 ments. It is tulip-shaped ; the height is 10 inches, the circum- 

 ference at the base 9^ inches, around the middle 19 inches, and 

 at the top 22 inches. Without indicating much mechanical 

 skill, the ornaments are effective, consisting of circles and zig- 

 zag work impressed around the urn, by two very simple tools, 

 one of them having ten square pointed teeth to the inch, and 

 the other about three oval pointed teeth to the inch. The 

 artist has used his humble mechanical appliances with taste; 

 the outline is graceful and the ornaments are not inelegantly 

 arranged *. 



The other urn is much ruder in form and workmanship. 

 It is similar to those which have usually been found in 



* By the kindness of the Rev. J. Hunter of Belford, I have received a 

 fragment of an urn recently found in a Cist-vaen at Warrenton near to 

 Belford, which is ornamented in a similar manner to the urn figured. 



