CIRCLES ENCLOSING BARROWS. 7 



The incompleteness of these circles is so frequent a feature in their 

 construction that it cannot be accidental. They have moreover been 

 left incomplete in some cases in a way which most evidently 

 shows a design in the operation ; as for instance, where the circle 

 is formed of a number of stones standing apart from each other, the 

 space between two of them has frequently been carefully built up 

 with one large or several smaller stones 1 . The effect of this is to 

 break the continuity, or rather the uniformity, of the circle, and so 

 to make it imperfect. This very remarkable feature, in connection 

 with the enclosing circles, is also found to occur in the case of other 

 remains which belong to the same period and people as the bar- 

 rows. The sculptured markings engraved upon rocks, and also 

 upon stones forming the covers of urns or cists, consist in the main 

 of two types cup-shaped hollows, and circles, more or less in 

 number, surrounding in most cases a central cup. In almost every 

 instance the circle is imperfect, its continuity being sometimes 

 broken by a duct leading out from the central cup ; at other times 

 by the hollowed line of the circle stopping short when about to join 

 at each end. The connection of these sculptured stones, if so they 

 may be termed, with places of sepulture brings them at once into 

 close relationship with the enclosing circles of barrows, and it is 

 scarcely possible to imagine but that the same idea, whatever that 

 may have been, is signified by the incomplete circle in both cases. 

 The rings of gold and bronze, of various shapes, some of which in 

 their construction show that the penannular form is not caused by 

 the requirements of their use, appear to represent the same incom- 

 plete circle. In fact, if some of the gold rings were figured upon 

 stone, they would appear in the very similitude of the circular rock 

 sculptures 2 . I will attempt to give no explanation of this figure, 



1 To prevent encumbering the subject with a large number of examples of circles 

 made incomplete in tbis way, it may be sufficient to refer the reader to a paper 

 by Mr. James Logan, F.S.A., on ' Circles of Stones in Scotland, presumed to be 

 Druidical/ printed in the Archseologia, vol. xxii. p. 198. Mention is there made, and 

 engravings given, of several circles where this feature is quite distinct. The author 

 calls the stone, which tills up the space between two of the separate stones of the 

 circle, the altar, his view being that the circles are temples. I found in a cairn, 

 examined by the Rev. R. J. Mapleton and myself, at Kilmartin, in Argyleshire, two 

 circles, parallel to each other, and surrounding a cist, in which was an unburnt body. 

 The circles were within and covered by the mound, and were both made incomplete 

 by having the space between two of the stones built up with smaller ones. See Pro- 

 ceedings of Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. vi. p. 339. 



2 For a description of these sculptured rocks and stones, with accurate figures of 

 them, the reader is referred to 'Ancient British Sculptured Rocks of Northumber- 

 land/ &c., by George Tatc, F.U.S., published in the Transactions of the Berwickshire 

 Naturalists' Club, vol. v. p. 137; to 'Archaic Sculpturing*,' by Sir J. V. Simp.>.Mi:. 



