SOME ANCIENT BRITISH REMAINS. 95 



which are simply shallow excavations on the summits of 

 rocks and boulders, generally at or near the tops of hills, I 

 think there is little doubt that in most, if not all, cases, they 

 originated by weathering of the rock-surface ; but in many 

 cases their shaj^e is so regularly circular, and the margin 

 so abrupt and well-defined, that it is difficult to imagine 

 that they have not been subsequently modified by human 

 art. 



(1) KiSTVAENS, when perfect, are composed of four slabs of 

 stone set on edge, and more or less imbedded in the ground. 

 The space enclosed is oblong and roughly rectangular, and 

 was formerly covered in by another large slab when an 

 interment took place of either cremated remains or an un- 

 burnt body. In some cases earthenware jars, and weapons 

 of flint or metal, were deposited. The long diameter of the 

 space, which is usuall}^ approximately north and south, 

 rarely exceeds 4| or 5 feet ; the width is not often more than 

 2J feet. In one recorded case the dimensions are only 2 ft. 

 9 in. b}' 1 ft. G in. Even in the largest of these cavities no 

 adult body could be placed unless the knees were first bent 

 up towards the chin. 



Probably in all cases the " Kistvaen " was originally 

 covered in with a mound of earth or stones, or both, forming 

 a " barrow " or " cairn " ; but in the course of ages the 

 earth of the mound has often been entirely removed by 

 weathering, and the stones by wall-builders or road-menders. 

 The large slabs of the Kistvaen itself have too often been 

 broken, or removed and put to other uses. 



(2) Cromlechs, which are often called Dolmens, consist of 

 three large upright stones firmly fixed in the ground, sup- 

 porting on their tops a huge slab several feet above the 

 ground. Occasionally the supporters are more than three in 

 number. In the only perfect specimen now existing in 



