326 



Abury. 



Mr. Joseph Hunter states that he was informed by a labourer that 

 the earth had been examined to the depth of a yard or more, at the 

 foot of these stones, to see if there were any e\-idences of sacrifices 

 having been performed there, but nothing peculiar was observed. 



In the centre of the southern inner circle of twelve stones was one 

 stone, described by Stukeley as having been of a circular form at 

 the base, of a vast bulk, 21 feet long, 8 feet 9 inches in diameter, 

 and when standing, higher than the rest. It formed, in Stukeley's 

 opinion, the " Kibla,"- " Ambre," or central obelisk of this temple. 

 Nothing now remains of it. 



In the southern end of the line that connected the two centres of 

 these temples, and between the soutliern temple and the circumval- 

 lation, a single stone was standing in Stukeley's time. It was not 

 of great bulk, but it had a hole wrought in it, to which Stukeley 

 thought that the victim was attached before it was slain. This, 

 which he called the "Ring Stone," has entirely disappeared.^ 



With respect to the mode of arrangement of the stones compos- 

 ing these circles, Stukeley says, "that as they generally have a rough 



^ Number of Stones calculated to be standing or fallen, at different periods: 



AUBKUT,! 



1663. 



Sttjeeley, 

 1724. 



Standiii"' Standing TaUen 



Outer Circle of 100 



Northern outer Circle 



,, inner Circle 



,, central cove stones . 

 Southern outer Circle 



inner Circle 



central stone or 

 obeUsk 



Ring Stone . 



25 

 9 

 5 



10 



SiE E. C. 



HOAKE, 



1819. 



Long, 

 1857. 



Standing Standing 



10 

 4 

 1 

 2 

 2 



10 

 3 



2 

 2 



and 12 re- 

 cumbent. 



• As Aubrey's plan docs not recognize the distinction of inner and outer circles in the Jforthem 

 and Southern temples, the numbers he gives are reckoned together. 



+ From Stukeley's plan it would appear that only 3 stones of tliis circle were then standing. He 

 has, however, marked the half-remaining stone next to stone g in Sir R. Hoare's plan, as recumbent 

 instead of erect, as it now is. 



