INTRODUCTION. 



so marked and so frequent amongst the works of the early people of 

 Britain, though I think it not improbable that whatever the Tau 

 symbol of Egypt, the equal-limbed cross with its binding circle^ 

 and other like signs betokened, this mysterious figure may likewise 

 have represented. 



It has been suggested by some that the enclosing circles were 

 merely made to support the mound at its base. It is only necessary 

 to remark, in refutation of this surmise, that the circle is often 

 within the mound, is sometimes a trench, and is, as before men- 

 tioned, nearly always incomplete. Others have, and with more 

 reason, supposed them to be marks of taboo , a fence to preserve the 

 habitation of the dead from desecration, but the fact that so many 

 are within, and must always have been concealed by, the barrow, 

 appears to be inconsistent with this explanation. I think it more 

 probable, if the notion of a fence is to be entertained, that they were 

 intended to prevent the exit of the spirit of those buried within, 

 rather than to guard against disturbance from without. A dread of 

 injury by the spirits of the dead has been very commonly felt by 

 many savage and semi-civilised peoples ; nor, indeed, is such fear 

 unknown in our own times and even amongst ourselves ; and it may 

 well be that, by means of this symbolic figure, it was thought this 

 danger might be averted, and the dead kept safe within the tomb. 



It is usual to find the wold barrows associated in groups, of 

 greater or less number, though a single one is not very uncommon. 



1 have known as many as thirty and more, which, from their close 

 proximity, might lay claim to be considered as a group. In other 

 parts of England they occur associated in much larger numbers, as 

 for instance in Wiltshire, where, especially round Stonehenge, bar- 

 rows are very numerous. They are not generally placed quite close 

 together, but are separated by intervals, sometimes of several 

 hundred feet, though occasionally two or more approach very near 

 to each other, indeed to touching. As a rule they crown the 

 heights, and though frequently placed on the slope of the hill, it is 

 rare to find them in the bottom of the valley. We need not be at 

 a loss to suggest the reason of this, for as the object of the mound 

 itself was to be a memorial of those buried within it, so it is natural 

 that such a position should be chosen as would allow that memorial 

 to be generally and constantly seen. 



There are certain features in connection with many, if not with 



Bart.; and to 'Incised Markings on Stone/ published by direction of Algernon, 

 Duke of Northumberland. 



