1*79^' account of antiquities in Scotland i^^ 



themselves, or their immediate desceridents ; and there- 

 fore they serve more effectually to distinguish ihe 

 countries that were occupied by particular tribes of 

 people. It is with this view that I suggest the 

 following remarks on some of the remains of an- 

 tiquity that are still discoverable in Scotland. 



All the antiquities that I have yet heard of in 

 this country, may be referred to one or other of 

 the following general clafses, (not to mention Ro- 

 man camps, or other works of a later date ;) of each 

 of 'which I ihall speak a little, according to the order 

 in which they occur. 



I. Mounds of earth thrown up into a sort of he- 

 mispherical form, usually distinguiftied by the name 

 of mote or moat. 



II. Large heaps of stones piled upon one anothpr, 

 called cairns. 



III. Large detached stones, fixed in the earth in an 

 erect position. 



IV. Large stones, fixed likewise in an erect position 

 in a circular form. 



V. Circular buildings erected of stone, without any 

 cementing matter, usually distinguiflicd by the ad- 

 junct epithet dun ; and 



VI. Walls, cemented by a vitrified matter, usually 

 found on the top of high mountains. 



I. The artificial mounds of earth, reducible to the 

 first clafs, are sometimes found in the south of Scot- 

 land, and I suppose in England also. Perhaps they may 

 be likewise found in the north of Scotland, although 

 I have never heard of any of them there. From the 

 name (mote) and other circumstances, it v.'ould seaT\ 



