240 



tumuli in the size of the skeletons they contain. These tumuli 

 are formed of surfoce stones, heaped up a few feet above the cist, 

 and covered with a foot of earth. The flint flakes are of rude 

 shape ; human and animal bones are occasionally on the surface 

 of the ground around, but not in the cist. Sometimes traces of 

 fire may be discerned, but not those of cremation. 



The increased stature of this race, as compared with the former, 

 may be attributed to better food, and more efficient protection 

 from the inclemency of the seasons. Several of their tumuli 

 existed some years ago, near Cheltenham, at " Waste ;" there 

 were not any traces of domesticated animals discovered, nor any of 

 the cultivation of the soil. A race of such habits may be classed as 

 belonging to the "Paloeozoic strata of humanity." (Farrar's 

 ".Families of Speech," p^*. 156, &c.) 



The long heart-shaped barrows, of superior design and work- 

 manship, with chambers, and those with passages, and constructed 

 of unhewn stone, may be classed next in order of time. * The 

 chambers are formed of large flat stones, placed edgeways, the 

 spaces between being filled up with neat stone walling ; and they 

 are covered with flat stones, overlapping each other, so as to 

 throw off wet and rain. There are many bodies in some of the 

 chambers, of a mixed race, varying slightly in stature from five 

 feet two inches to five feet eight inches, and not diff"cring much 

 from the present race of men. The flint articles are often 

 beautifully worked, and are named by Dr. Thurnam " flint leaf 

 flakes." In the small end of these tumuli a cist is often found, 

 containing the bones of the larger preceding race : and occasionally 

 beneath the large stones at the greater end of the barrow, the 

 jaw and thigh bones, with numerous jaw and frontal bones of 



• Uley-bury, and Wellow {or Stoney Littletont barrow, both Gaelic names 

 ai-e thus derived ; viz., Uley-bury from the Gaelic, Uiainn — a charnel house, 

 and bhuraich— to form a mound. Wellow is probably from the Gaelic, Uaigh 

 —a grave. Abury seems derived from the Gaelic, lobair (pronounced Ebber) 

 to sacrifice See M'Alpine's Dictionary. 



