BOROUGHBRIDGE EXCURSION, AUG. 7, 1876. 35 
at six feet above the ground wedge-holes, thus giving foundation for 
the surmise that at one time its destruction had been contemplated. 
Mr. Lukis then stated that in his opinion they were probably the 
remains of a line of pillars similar to lines which exist at Shap, in 
Westmoreland, in Devon and Cornwall, and also in South Brittany 
and other countries. Where destruction has not been carried to so 
great an extent as here, the plan can be discovered without much 
difficulty. In these cases it is found that rude blocks of stone, of no 
uniform size, have been set on end and formed into one line, or into 
two or more nearly parallel lines, stretching away for several hundred 
feet. These lines are generally oriented, but occasionally they run 
from north to south. In support of this supposition, set forth for 
the first time, Mr. Lukis pointed out that the position of the northern 
stone seemed to confirm the idea. It is much wider than the others, 
and its long axis is at right angles to the direction of the line. This 
- exactly tallies with the systems of lines in South Brittany. There 
the stones increase in size as they extend from what may be supposed 
to have been the commencement of the lines to the other extremity, 
at which is found a terminating circle; and there the enormous head- 
stones of the lines have their long axes placed as in the case of the 
“ Devil’s Arrows.” He therefore thought that the lines were 
constructed upon the same system as in the other countries men- 
: tioned, so that if a satisfactory explanation of the destination and 
_ purpose of any one of these systems was obtained, it would probably 
serve for all. That explanation, however, has yet to be ascertained, 
_ so that even if we had before us a group in a condition of unquestion- 
§ able perfection, we should still be seekers for its signification. 
With regard to the antiquity of the monoliths, Mr. Lukis said that 
nothing more can be said than that they were pre-Roman—very 
Dindernit, as that statement is. It should not be forgotten that the 
_ stones stand on ground in close proximity to an ancient British town, 
which afterwards became the great Roman city of Isurium, retaining 
its old name in a classic form. There may have been, and probably 
_ were, other megalithic monuments in this vicinity at that time, which 
during the long occupation of the Roman forces were converted into 
building materials. It is not often that great stones like these stand 
alone, without a number of other circumjacent monuments, telling of 
a long and peaceful occupation of the soil, and when they do-exist we 
vay 
ay 
2 
" 
