PORTESHAM AND BRIDEHEAD DISTRICT. l.XXV. 



Dr. COLLEY MARCH said he did not know of a finer example 

 of a ringed barrow than this, except one close to Eggardon that 

 measured 192 feet from ridge to ridge, and that people passed 

 constantly without seeing. Of course, it had a ritual meaning, 

 but upon that subject he would reserve his remarks until later in 

 the day. All these barrows were burial places. They were of 

 different ages, and roughly divided into long barrows and 

 round barrows. The long barrows were often galleried. The 

 orientation was east and west, and the entrance at the east end. 

 Of course, it was difficult to say that there was any orientation in 

 the round barrow ; but if the barrow was opened there would be 

 some evidence of orientation, because the body would be found 

 placed in an oriented position. The round barrows were, as a 

 rule, later than the long barrows ; but not necessarily so, and 

 they were of different sizes and shapes. Some were bell-shaped, 

 of deeply hollowed contour. Some had rings close to them, 

 some at a distance from them, as in this case ; and some were 

 surrounded by a circle of stones. Some again were simply small 

 rings with no tumulus, but an interment in the centre. 



The ASSISTANT SECRETARY asked Dr. March if he admitted 

 the substantial accuracy of Dr. Thurnam's generalisation " Long 

 barrows, long heads ; round barrows, round heads " ? Did the 

 shape of the barrow afford any reliable indication of the nature 

 and age of the interment ? 



Dr. COLLEY MARCH answered that Dr. Thurnam's axiom was 

 a useful aide-memoire ; but it was not always to be relied upon. 

 One found long heads in round barrows ; but not vice versa, 

 round heads in long barrows. 



THE HELSTONE. 



Dr. COLLEY MARCH, addressing the party gathered round the 

 rude stone structure, remarked that three names were applied to 

 these stones, "Grey Wethers," Druid stones, and Sarsen stones. 

 The term " Grey Wethers," of course, explained itself, for at a 



