;]08 Dr Hibbcrt's Observation* on Vitrified Forls. 



Will/, That if we are entitled to suppose, that in a period 

 of the history of Scotland when wood was most luxuriant, more 

 than one ancient observance might have induced the vitrifica- 

 tion in question, we are authorized in the expectation, that the 

 character of the sites, in which vitrification occurs will be found 

 as diversified as the multifarious national causes to which the 

 effect may possibly be ascribed. 



bthly, That some of the sites where vitrification is found 

 were ancient places of rendezvous for tribes or clans upon any 

 public occasion whatever of peace or warfare. 



Qthly, That many vitrified sites may from historical and in- 

 ternal evidence be shown to have resulted from beacon-fires 

 formed by piles of wood, after the manner described by Olaus 

 Magnus, Snorro, and other northern writers. 



Ithly, That other public occasions, festive or religious, might 

 have given rise to the same effect of vitrification. 



8thly, That it would be as easy to show, from numerous ex- 

 amples, that most of the oldest defences or Duns of Scotland 

 exhibit no vitrification whatever, as that when vitrification does 

 occur, it is not restricted to the precise limits of an area cha- 

 racterized by rude ramparts of stone. 



Othly, That in some instances the vitrification of stony ma- 

 terials is of so small an extent, as to nearly elude the search 

 after it ; while in others it is of a continuity and intensity which 

 almost surpasses credence. 



lOthly, That, as it cannot be proved that the vitrification in 

 question is in every instance confined to fortified sites, the 

 term vitrified fort is too frequently the language of error. 

 And, 



Lastly, That, as nothing can be more satisfactorily establish- 

 ed, than that vitrification is an incidental, not a designed effect, 

 the name of vitrified foki may with much advantage be 

 exchanged for the more comprehensive and untheorctical one of 

 VITRIFIED SITE. 



