EARLY MAN 



urn containing bones and ashes ; and in Aynsome Lane, an urn 14 in. high 

 containing a quantity of half burnt bones and ashes. 



For the same geographical reason, probably, which results in a scarcity 

 of all antiquities in the eastern portion of this district, where it abuts upon 

 Westmorland, no burials are recorded between Cartmel and the head of Lake 

 Windermere. At the latter place, in Hawkshead Hall Park, a little to the 

 south-east of the mill-pond, was a cairn ; and a stone circle occurred east of 

 Knipe Ground plantation, with more cairns a little more than half a mile 

 south-south-west of this last. Interments seem to have been made in the 

 first instance in a small square hole, which had been covered with a boulder. 

 Amongst the burnt human remains was a small flint knife. 



West of Coniston Water at Torver (Bleaberry Hawes) is recorded a 

 cairn 29 ft. in diameter, amongst others, with a burial cist and cremated 

 interments, among the remains of which were found fragments of pottery 

 and of worked flints. In the first case stones showing the action of fire were 

 found all the way through, as well as small quantities of charcoal. 



From this place southward there is a continuous area of prehistoric 

 interments. Just north of Knapperthaw, which is near to Lowick, are 

 remains of a stone circle, which has been erected upon a stone ring platform 

 or embankment. On the north-west side still remain five stones of small size, 

 while the position of others is traceable. Probably the circle was about 90 ft. 

 internal diameter. There was sign of an inner chamber on the north-west, 

 and, to the south-west, of an entrance or gap in the ring, supposed to be 

 ancient. Near Kirkby Ireleth, at Heathwaite, were two small barrows, close 

 to two stone circles, called the ' Giants' Graves,' which on being excavated 

 about two years ago were found to contain the bones of men covered by a flat 

 stone. ' In one was a fragment of a stone ring about two inches in diameter.' 

 At Ireleth Mill, also, were found eight urns without tumuli, arranged in a 

 line north-east to south-west, each containing human bones. 



At Stainton, near Dalton, where some direct evidences of the Bronze 

 Age have been found, there has been discovered also a large cinerary urn, 

 with upper band, and ' rudely ornamented with diagonal lines forming a 

 pattern.' A small bronze implement was found within. Another similar 

 urn found at hand contained a smaller vessel, which is said to have held 

 the calcined remains of a child. 



At Birkrigg Common, which is east of Dalton, on a part overlooking 

 the village of Bardsea, was a circle about 10 ft. in diameter surrounded by 

 ten unhewn stones, each about 3 ft. in height. It has long been called the 

 Druids' Temple. This does not seem to have been explored. But on 

 Kirkby Moor there has been found evidence of interments in association 

 with stone circles and cairns. 



Further south, at Scales, near Aldingham, as long ago as 1803 there 

 were found remains of cremated interments in an urn under a small cairn. 

 Near to this spot was found also ' a tomb in which two persons had been 

 interred, having a broad, flat limestone laid over it, upon two upright stones 

 at the end.' At BayclifF, near to the same place, are recorded some 

 sepulchral urns from near the Moat and Colt Park ; while in the southern 

 limit of the peninsula, at Roose, has been found a burial by cremation, 

 accompanied by vases of pottery deposited. The body seems to have been 



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