ROUGH STONE MONUMENTS 



The method of burial observed in the megalithic 

 tombs is almost universally inhumation. Crema- 

 tion seems to occur only in France, but there it is 

 beyond all doubt. The known examples are found 

 in the departments of Finistere, Marne, and 

 Aisne, and in the neighbourhood of Paris. In Finis- 

 tere out of 92 megalithic burials examined 61 

 were cremations, 26 were inhumations, and 5 

 were uncertain. It is extremely curious that this 

 small portion of France should be the only part 

 of the megalithic area where cremation was prac- 

 tised. It is generally held that cremation was 

 brought into Europe by the broad-headed ' Alpine ' 

 people, who seem to have invaded the centre of 

 the continent at some period in the neolithic age. 

 It is possible that in parts of France a mixture 

 took place between the megalithic builders and 

 the Alpine race. Intermarriage would no doubt 

 lead to confusion in manv cases between the two 

 rites. 



In all other cases the builders of the megalithic 

 monuments buried their dead unburned. Often 

 the bod}' was lying stretched out on its back, or 

 was set in a sitting position against the side of the 

 tomb ; but most frequently it was placed in what 

 is known as the contracted position, laid on one 

 side, generally the left, with the knees bent and 

 drawn up towards the chin, the arms bent at the 

 elbow, and the hands placed close to the face. 

 Many explanations of this position have been 



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