302 Dr Hibberfs Observations on Vitrified Furls. 



perhaps a combination of events might have occurred to pro- 

 duce this appearance. 



Nor is it quite impossible, that some few occasional instances 

 of vitrification in particular sites might have been rather indi- 

 cative of the forest-trees that blazed during the immense 

 feasts which the Vikingr were accustomed to enjoy upon each 

 occasion of a strand slaughter ; that is, when they assembled 

 near some strand or shore to slaughter the cattle which they 

 had captured, for the purpose of transporting the salted car- 

 casses to their winter haunts. 



Another ancient observance connected with the lighting up 

 of immense fires, was the festival in honour of Baal, which 

 was renewed upon each return of the summer solstice. This 

 was the greatest feast of the ancient inhabitants of Scotland, 

 which even long outlived the introduction of Christianity ; no 

 ceremony belonging to it being subsequently omitted, except 

 the sacrificial effusion of human blood. Indeed, the custom 

 of the Baaltein is perpetuated in some few districts to the pre- 

 sent time ; and at the parish of Galstone in Ayrshire, a simi- 

 lar pagan honour characterizes the feast of a Christian Saint, 

 the ancient custom being still retained of kindling fires on all 

 the neighbouring heights upon the evening before a celebrated 

 fair is held in honour of Saint Peter. — (Statistical Account of 

 Scotland, vol. ii. p. 82.) 



In short, we have only to conceive of an annual hunter's 

 feast, a Baaltein, or indeed a periodical bonfire upon any pub- 

 lic occasion whatever, continued for many centuries in an ac- 

 customed site, and during a state of country in which it was 

 deemed patriotic to reduce the luxuriance of extensive forests, 

 and we have a cause perfectly adequate to explain many in- 

 stances of vitrification, which, I expect, upon inquiry, will be 

 found to be of far greater frequency throughout Scotland than 

 has hitherto been suspected. 



Tthly, The 'probability that many of the sites in which vi- 

 trified remains occur, were places of rendezvous for tribes or 

 clans, upon all public occasions of peace or icarfare. 



Should this supposition be admissible, it might possibly ex- 

 plain the circumstance of some vitrified sites boasting little or 

 no defence. 



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