10 The Dolmen-Mounds of Brittany. (January, 
posture, with the head down on the knees; a decision which 
undoubtedly proves the tumulus of Kergonfals to have been 
a place of sepulture by inhumation. 
This burial in a sitting or crouching posture seems to have 
been usual, at various periods, among the dolmen-builders, 
as similar examples have been found in Scandinavia, as at 
Goldhaon, in the Channel! Islands, as at Du-Thus, opened 
by Mr. Lukis, where two skeletons were found, under the 
cap-stone of one of the small northern chambers, in a simi- 
lar position. At Charlton Abbots, in Gloucestershire, were 
found as many as twelve, and at West Kennet, Wilts, six 
bodies, all in a sitting position; so, also, at Uley and 
Avening the same position is noticeable. Nor are there 
wanting modern instances of burial in the sitting posture, 
which is practised amongst the Japanese, Australians, and 
Esquimaux. Among the Kaffirs, also, the body is never laid 
prostrate, but the body is placed in the grave in a sitting 
posture, the knees being brought to the chin and the head 
bent over them.* 
Some very slight traces of artificial working of the interior 
stones seem to have been considered as doubtful by the ex- 
plorers. We cannot but regret, in reading Mr. Galle’s 
account of this examinatiori, that his party thought it neces- 
sary to remove several of the cap-stones in the course of 
their work, which, from our experience, can never be really 
necessary. He says:—‘‘ Nous nous décidames a regret a 
enlever les deux premiéres tables, apres avoir pris un croquis 
exact de l’état des hieux.” 
The better-known hollow tumulus of Le Rocher, which 
has been noticed above, was cleared out by the late M. Bain, 
the owner of the neighbouring property, as long back 
as 1844, and the few objects found therein are still preserved 
by his widow: these principally consist of a few fragments 
of pottery, one of which was the base of a vase, containing 
beads of blue jasper and dark jade, with a blade and arrow- 
head, both of flint. 
The grotto itself, beneath the superimposed galgal, or 
cairn, consists of thirteen broad and flat cap-stones, sup- 
ported by upright slabs, the interstices between which are 
built up with dry walling. The angle which the eastern 
gallery makes with the western portion is as nearly as pos- 
sible in the centre of the structure; the angle is 125°, whilst 
that at Kergonfals is more acute, being 108° only; as usual, 
* Some Arab tribes, in the Hadhramaut, according to Von Wrede, yet 
practise the ancient pre-Mohammedan (Himyaritic ?) fashion of interment, 
with the knees drawn up to the head. 
ee 
