488 



NA TURE 



[March 26, 1908 



fliat the former had this decHnation in 920 B.C., the 

 latter in 1300 B.C. 



• (9) There is so far no absolute demonstration as to 

 which of the stars in question was used, or whether 

 they were used at different times. Some hght may 

 bs thrown on this point if the approximate dates 



of the solstitial circles at Midmar, Sunhoney and 

 Slonehead can be determined, using the change of 

 obliquity. 



_ This question of date is, of course, one of surpass- 

 ing mterest, and it is not a little curious that the 

 NO. 2004, VOL. 77] 



conditions at Aberdeen are such that no direct solution 

 of the problem is so far possible. 

 But there are some sidelights. 



Against the older date is the fact that the Aberdeen 

 circles, even May-year cycles, differ in the method 

 of alignment used in other parts of Britain, includ 

 ing the west coast of Scotland, at 

 tlie earlier date. But the presence 

 of the recumbent stone is not the 

 only difference; the central stone 

 of the Gorsedd is generally re- 

 placed by a cairn, or rings or 

 mounds of stones. The true N. 

 alignments at Dyce, Whitehill 

 Wood, Raes of Clune and Candle 

 Hill (Insch) have no counterpart 

 in the South, and they may be 

 held to indicate possibly an ad- 

 vance in the manner of determin- 

 ing time at night, and therefore 

 an erection at a more recent date. 



Again, the work at the various 

 circles showed that the Aberdeen 

 system of alignment is far inferior 

 to that of the employment of an 

 outstanding stone some distance 

 away from the circle as in the 

 Cornish monuments. But it must 

 not be taken for granted that this 

 inferior method of alignment 

 meant an inferior knowledge of 

 astronomy, which we should be 

 justified in associating with an 

 earlier date. I am rather inclined 

 to attribute it to the fact that an 

 exact knowledge of the length o> 

 the year and of the number of 

 days in each quarter having been 

 gained, exact alignments became 

 less necessary. As time went on, 

 the circle became of less import- 

 ance as an astronomical instru- 

 ment, though its other uses re- 

 mained, and this latter view seems 

 strengthened by the fact that in 

 .'Vberdeenshire the circles are verv 

 frequently located on the tops of 

 low hills, convenient places of 

 assembly, whereas in Cornwall 

 this, so far as I now remember, 

 did not often happen. The Aber- 

 deenshire circles, indeed, arc 

 generally at a much lower level, 

 among the cultivation. It was 

 chiefly the astronomical require- 

 ment of a clear horizon which was 

 fulfilled in Cornwall and Dart- 

 moor, at heights from 1000 to 

 1500 feet. 



Another strong argument against 

 tiie older date is the absence of 

 cromlechs in the Aberdeen district. 

 May we not take the absence of 

 the cromlech and the presence of 

 the cist as another proof of 

 modernity? By cist I mean an 

 obvious grave as opposed to the 

 " chambered cairns " of some 

 authors, which were as obviously 

 not built as graves merely. These " chambered 

 cairns," I take it, are really the interiors of barrows, 

 and are large examples of cromlechs. It is imma- 

 terial whether the barrows were built of stones 

 or earth to make the chambers rain-tight. This 

 would depend upon which was most handv- stone*; 



i 



-^(p\ I 



