312 Antiquities. discovered in East Lothian. 
ferent bodies; the longest measured six feet nine inches, 
the shortest five feet three inches. The thigh bones are of a 
great length and thickness, and one jaw-bone was discos 
vered of a prodigious size. , 
Towards the west end of the burial-ground there are evi- 
dent marks of bodies that have been consumed by fire, 
but it bas not been ascertained what extent of ground these 
covered, 
The farm has been in possession of the same family for 
three generations back ; and it is said a tradition has been 
handed down that a battle was fought there, and that those 
who. were killed were buried on that spot, which was then 
arising ground, and always kept sacred from the touch of 
the plough, until the present possessor ploughed it over 
many years ago, at which time a few coflins were dis- 
covered. 
Tradition also reports, that near the present farm-house 
there was formerly a bastel, or bestial, an ancient place of 
security for cattle during an incursion of an enemy. This 
gives name toa place on the farm to this day. It 1s also 
said there had been either a fort or Baron’s castle erected 
there. . 
When digging a deep trench some years ago, the work- 
men discovered a round building of hewn stone, about nine 
feet in diameter; they also found a range of building so 
strongly cemented that they could not remove it. 
It appears at least probable that this might have been 
in former times a Roman station, and that the circular 
building was a bath. What supports this idea is the cuss 
tom the Romans had of placing their burial-grounds near 
to the highways. Now it is well known that the great 
post road formerly passed close by the side of this burial- 
place, though it has since been removed further south. 
It seems certain, from the regular position of the coffins, 
and the skcietons having the appearance of adults, that they: 
have been deposited in the earth at one time, ahd after hay- 
ing fallen in battle. In this neighbourhood many single 
stone coffins have been found,: and sometimes two or three 
together; several long stones have also been erected, as it 
is thought, to che memory of some fallen chief; which 
renders it probable that this quarter has been the scene of 
many sanguinary battles, that are of so ancient a date as 
to be either unrecorded in the page of history, or form the 
dubious tale of tradition, 
His 
