By William Long, Esq. 67 



were found, accidentally, or by natural causes, such as are mentioned 

 above. ' A little more accuracy o£ observation might have settled 

 the question for ever/ " 



The finding of these different kinds of chips together makes it 

 appear probable that these difPerent kinds of stones were worked on 

 the ground at or about the same time; but it does not settle the 

 question. There may have been an interval of time, greater or less, 

 and the chips may yet have become mixed, and have been carried 

 away, together, with the earth or chalk of which some of the bar- 

 rows were composed. The chips found in these three barrows would 

 go far to prove the superior antiquity of Stonehenge to that of these 

 particular tumuli.' 



One more theory in connection with the construction of Stone- 

 henge must yet be mentioned. Four or five years ago the writer 

 was astonished at hearing his friend Dr. Thumam give utterance to 

 what he then considered, and still considers to be, a rank archaeolo- 

 gical heresy; viz., that Stonehenge was at one time covered with a 

 roof. He said nothing in proof or support of this opinion, and the 

 writer thought it might have been a passing fancy, and that it was 

 not based on any serious considerations. As however the MTiter 

 finds the following in Lieut. Oliver's paper on the Prehistoric Re- 

 mains in Brittany, read to the Ethnological Society, January 10th, 

 1871, he cannot biit suppose that the Doctor really attached impor- 

 tance to this view, and had propounded it to others : " Dr. Thurnam 

 has given up the ophite or dracontium theory as untenable, but con- 

 siders that some of the circles, Stonehenge, for instance, may have 

 been covered in with a roof, as the Scandinavian temples are repre- 

 sented as covered and enclosed structures. A similar idea occurred 

 to a gentleman, who, on looking at Mr. Lukis' plans of the circles 

 and lines, suggested that the avenue might have been covered in 

 with timber and earth, and formed long chambers for the tribe to 

 live in, the chieftains occupying the western circular chamber." 



' Dr. Thurnam mentions in a note to p. 4^5 of " Archscologia," vol. 43, 

 that a stone "of fine micaceous sandstone, precisely agreeing with the stone of 

 the large flat slab in the centre of Stonehenge " was obtained by him from 

 barrow (No. 170), about a mile from " the stones." 



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