36 PAPERS, ETC. 



in tracing historical epochs, which comp.-irisons are the 

 only guide vve have in dealing with pre-historic times. 



This paper, however, does not profess to treat of the 

 remains found in ancient tumuli, but rather of the tumuli 

 themselves, and more particularly the tumuli which contain 

 Chambers, nearly all of which have disappeared ; but hap- 

 pily one perfect one remains, that at Wellow, in Somerset. 

 Others formerly existed in the county, the record of one of 

 which is still preserved, although the tumulus has itself be- 

 come a confused heap of stones. Before, however, entering 

 upon any detailed account of the chambered tumulus at 

 Wellow, it may be well to say a word or two on ancient 

 modes of interment in sepulchral barrows. 



Happily, through the careful investigations of archreolo- 

 gists in different countries, our knowledge of this subject 

 is becoming pretty exact, as well as extensive. To Mr. 

 Lukis we are indebted for active and careful investigations 

 in the Channel Islands, especially in the island of Guernsey, 

 where he has brought to light much that may greatly 

 assist us in forming just conclusions respecting other places 

 where similarly constructed barrows have been discovered. 

 So much mystery has hitherto hung over the stone Cham- 

 ber, and the ancient mound of earth which occasionally 

 Covers it, that much is due to those who have given to the 

 world correct information as to the purposes for which 

 they were designed. Mr. Lukis, with much labour, ex- 

 plored forty of these ancient sepulchral remains in the 

 Channel Islands, and some in France and England, and 

 says : " I have found a very remarkable similarity pervad- 

 ing all, as though a definite architectural law had regulated 

 their construction, and a precise plan had determined the 

 mode of interment. .... From numerous accounts 

 which have reached us, we have reason to conclude that 



