54 BARROWS AT HADDON FIELDS, DERBYSHIRE. 



with some pointed instrument, by which means also, the top and the 

 outer edge of the stone have been shaped ; and on each side of it a 

 band of similarly "pecked" surface, flat, and about 2| in. broad, and 

 extending from the top to the bottom of the stone. These two flat 

 surfaces would, if produced, make with each other an angle of about 

 1 1 5°, and each ends laterally in a projection forward at a right angle 

 (distinctly seen in the sketch), beyond which a fracture-surface 

 extends to the outer edge of the stone. The stone, when complete, 

 probably took the foim indicated above on the same plate, having a 

 central hole or " eye " with three lateral adjuncts or " gaps " arranged 

 in a radiate manner, the stone having a diameter of 24 in. and a 

 thickness of 4^ in. 



In section the " eye " and its adjuncts are peculiar : a and b are 

 sections, in the directions of the dotted lines in the upper figure, which 

 the reader must suppose to have its grinding surface downwards, as it 

 would be in use. He will observe that while the " eye " becomes 

 narrower upwards (being 4J in. in diameter at the top, and 5! in. at 

 the bottom), the adjuncts or "gaps" become narrower downwards, 

 to form three narrow slits, each about 2% in. long, on the bottom 

 surface. 



The use of these slits is somewhat puzzling. Mr. Jno. Evans 

 (author of " Ancient Stone Implements ") suggests that they were for 

 the insertion of a " mill-rine," and that the stone was " driven by 

 machinery from below as in modern mills, the spindle being either of 

 the same piece as the " rine," or keyed into it." But this cannot be, 

 for not only are these adjuncts perforations, instead of grooves on the 

 lower surface as is usually the case, but they narrow in the wrong 

 direction to allow the arms of the rine to be wedged in them so as to 

 support the stone. Several millers who have examined the stone have 

 acknowledged this upon fuller consideration. The Editor of this 

 magazine seems to have hit upon a more feasible solution, he regards 

 "the arms or adjuncts to the central piercing as perhaps intended for 

 the corn to run through, the central hole being occupied by a pin (of 

 oak probably) brought up from the base of the lower stone." When 

 perfect a nave of oak, having a conical hole on its lower surface, would 

 be driven into the central eye, and would be made to revolve upon a 



