TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 1225 
The cist was on the slope of a ridge lying to the south. The upper part was 
about three feet below the surface. The sides and cover were of stone slabs of the 
kind called Correen stone, and had the interstices filled in carefully with fine white 
clay like putty. This with the site, decomposed granite, had excluded air and 
moisture. 
The contents were a skeleton of which the large bones were complete, and also 
the skull, which contained all the teeth regular but worn flat. 
There was an earthenware urn ornamented, and below the urn two flint spear 
heads beautifully worked. 
I infer from the cist and contents that there was then a belief in a future 
state. 
(1) The act of burial shows this. 
(2) The care shown in constructing the cist and its contents. With rude 
implements the grave had been scooped out, the stunes of the sides and cover had 
been carried for about six miles. 
(3) The skeleton lay east and west, with the head looking to the east. 
(4) There was nothing inside the urn. It had probably been filled with food 
for the deceased. 
(5) The weapons. These were to be with him in the happy hunting ground to 
which it was believed he had been translated. 
2. Notes on a Cist found at Parkhill, Dyce, in October 1881. 
By W. Frreuson. 
3. On the Human Crania and other contents found in short stone Cists in 
Aberdeenshire. By Professor J. Srruruers, M.D., LL.D. 
Professor Struthers described the leading features of the bones found in eight 
short stone cists in Aberdeenshire, exhibiting the bones and giving the conclusions 
which he arrived at as to the sex, age, and stature of the bodies interred in the 
cists. Most of the bodies were those of men of good stature. Professor Struthers 
referred specially to a large-sized urn found in a farm in the parish of Fyvie, and 
which had been sent by the Rev. Mr. Leslie. The urn had been found in a 
circular hole, measuring 4} feet in diameter, which had been made in the ground, 
and a quantity of peat ashes indicated that cremation had taken place. The 
bottom on which the urn had been placed was coated over with clay to the depth 
of two inches, covered with small flat stones. The bottom of the cavity on which 
the urn rested was 2 feet 5 inches from the surface. The urn was made of clay, 
unglazed. The bones found in the urn were very much broken up. 
4. Notice of Human Bones found in 1884 in Balta Island, Shetland, by 
D. Edmonston, Esq. By Professor J. Strurners, M.D., LL.D. 
The paper stated that while Messrs. Ritchie and Downie, fish-curers, were erect- 
ing a fish-curing station in Balta Island, there was found a number of skele- 
tons. The workmen first came upon one skeleton lying at full length, the bones 
of which were in perfect preservation. The bones were those of a man over six 
feet in height. Subsequently other twelve skeletons were laid bare, all complete 
except one. All the bones were of large size and were those of men. The bodies 
had not been enclosed in coffins, and they had not been interred with any degree 
of regularity. Some had been buried on their backs, others on their sides, and two 
of them face downwards. None of the bodies were found more than eighteen 
inches below the surface. Professor Struthers said that he had received the bones, 
which were at present to be seen in the gallery in connection with the Anatomicai 
Museum. There was nothing particular about the skeletons. The bones were all 
quite fresh. Bones might be in sand hundreds of years, and remain fresh. The 
bones in question were those of strong men, adolescent and of middle age. 
