250 Details of an Address ly Dr. Phene at StoneJienge. 



areasj like the external fosse we see here^ not only circles of upright 

 monoliths, like the circle of the more ancient stones of this structure, 

 but stones superimposed on upright stones, forming bilithons, tri- 

 lithons, and pentalithons; the two latter evidently being solemn ways 

 of ingress to some sacred rite or position, as was the doorway of a 

 temple. Trilithons are found in Africa, in the Balearic Islands, and 

 along the route of an unknown people who, probably even before the 

 foundation of Rome, conveyed overland, through Gaul, the metallic 

 products of Britain and its isles, and they apparently terminate north- 

 wards where we now stand, and in the adjoining district of Marl- 

 borough. They seem the evidences of a distinct and peculiar race, 

 as in one route only, [i.e., the route of the tin traffic through Gaul 

 from Britain to the mouth of the Rhone and thence to Africa) 

 is this peculiar indication of a temple found. I think the suggestions 

 of former antiquaries, that there existed here an oval arrangement 

 of trilithons of the older stones, were correct. 



Of the older structure there is nothing like it in this part of 

 Britain, either in material or arrangement, the circles at Avebury 

 being of vast masses of stone, which are not of columnar form. The 

 only locality in the south, where there is an approximation to it, 

 is the great Devonian promontory with its projecting westward horn, 

 Cornwall, and even there stones such as these, I think, are not 

 geologically local. 



There are so many traditions of the conveyance of sacred stones 

 from place to place, and even to these islands, thai it is at least 

 no new idea that they may have been imported by holders of 

 a faith conveyed to these islands by, or as, new settlers, and if so 

 they would have had a special reverence, but it is evident they are 

 foreign to this locality and if their local origin be Wales or Corn- 

 wall that will answer all I propose for your consideration. 



We have no other example of a number of monoliths being brought 

 into the plains of England. The people of the hill country and the 

 people of the plains are still distinct ; and the further we go back 

 in time the more strongly were the diverse features marked, in race, 

 in religion, customs, and bearing. What then brought these stones 

 here ? I have pointed out that there is a vast period between the 



