EARTHWORKS NEA.R BRUTON. o'.i 



sand perforated in some places, and tke frequency of stone 

 dispersed about, proves that the workmen could not kave 

 been ignorant of tke substratum, and wkick tkey would 

 undoubtedly kave followed, kad stone been tke object of 

 tbeir researck. Tke conjectures as relating to querns is 

 certainly ingenious, bnt will admit of some of tke aforesaid 

 objections ; for, on finding a bed of stone suited to tkeir 

 purpose, would not tke Britons, or indeed any beings 

 endued witk common sense, kave followed tkat Stratum, 

 instead of openmg so many tkousand pits, over an extensive 

 tract of land, in precipitous situations, and on tke steep 

 sides of kills in every part of tkis district 1 Wkere pits 

 kave been opened, or levelled, tkese querns, or mill stones, 

 kave been invariably found ; tkey are made of tke native 

 green stone, and rudely formed. Tkose wkick kave koles 

 perforated in tke middle were tke upper stones, and were 

 turned round tke lower one by means of a bandle fixed 

 into tke perforation. Similar stones kave been found at 

 Knook, and in otker Britisk villages. Tkese at Pen kave 

 decided marks of tke tool upon tkem, and appear never to 

 kave been used. Tke tkird opinion, as to tkeir kaving 

 been made for tke purpose of kabitation, carries witk it 

 muck plausibility, but still furniskes objections. We know 

 tkat tke first kouses were only pits, covered over witk sods, 

 turf, and bougks of trees ; I am sensible also tkat no Situa- 

 tion could be found better adapted to a Britisk settlement, 

 a dry and kealtky piain, gently elevated above a valley, 

 abounding witk Springs of never failing water ; yet we do 

 not find a sufficient quantity of ckarred wood, animal 

 bones, or pottery, to justify us in fixing tkis spot as a per- 

 manent residence of tke Britons. On tke Eastern side of 

 tkese pits is anotker work, tkrown up on a steep neck of 

 land projecting over tke river Stour ; it consists of an ele- 



