TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 155 



district, and the facility with which they could be smelted and metal obtained, 

 Sir John thought it probable that these stone axes belong to a time before the 

 natives of this place became acquainted with the art of smelting ii-ou. 



On a recent Examination of British Tumuli and Monuments in the Hehrides 



and on the Western Coast of Scotland, with suggestive Inferences. By J. S. 



Phen6, F.G.S., F.B.G.S., Member of the British Archceological Association. 



The object with which the investigations had been conducted was the observ- 

 ance of natm-al physical circimistances of position in conjunction with the oldest 

 archfBological remains ; more especially where the author had been so fortimate as 

 to meet with undisturbed relics of prehistoric ai-t. The first object of interest to 

 which he dkected attention was the tumulus in the larger Cumbrae, in the Firth 

 of Clyde, of the diSerent parts of which photographs were exhibited. It contained 

 five stone cists, each formed of four slabs of red sandstone, with a large overlying 

 slab for a cover. Within the cists was a layer of fine white pebbles. The cists 

 were in an apparently studied position, the largest being placed nearly north and 

 south, and on each side one of smaller dimensions tending towards the east and 

 west ; the two latter contained bones apparently burnt, with an incinerary urn of 

 one of the oldest types of British pottery in each. To the rear of the first was a 

 small cist containing the skull and bones of a child, and on the western side of that 

 one in which there were no remains. The fu-st and largest cist contained the bones 

 of a large man. In the small cist, with the bones of a child, were portions of a 

 broken urn, and in the western one a clean and empty urn only. There was a 

 uniformity about the whole mound which pointed clearly to the cists being of one 

 date, and that they represented one funereal operation. By the permission of the 

 Earl of Glasgow, he made a cutting through the timiulus, and found abundant proof 

 that the mound had been raised by art. 



The position of the remains— the principal tomb having on each side one with 

 evidences of cremation, of persons, as the bones indicated, of less stature than the 

 occupant of the central cist, and therefore probably of women ; that of the youth 

 at the rear, and the presence of the empty cist or cenotaph — suggested the idea, 

 admitted by Dr. Wilson in his ' Prehistoric Annals of Scotland,' of the custom 

 of immolation on the death of a chief or archpriest. 



The next object to which the author called attention was a tumiilus at the 

 northern end of Cantire, which is still under investigation, in which was discovered 

 an urn similar in design to the principal one from Cumbrae. Like results had 

 attended his researches in the vicinity of Cuff HiU in Ayi'shire, of Berigonium in 

 Argyleshire, and in the island of Arran ; in each case pottery of the same type was 

 discovered. 



Referring to the archseological indications, a similar repetition of memorials 

 occurred again in the dLrection of the Crinan Canal. Other discoveries were 

 referred to by the author, who stated that on the western coast and islands up to 

 Durness, by Cape Wrath, indications of a Pagan race were to be foimd ; not 

 the least remarkable amongst which were some specimens of sei-pent mounds and 

 constructions, identical with those of Ohio and Wisconsin. His investigations had 

 so far terminated at the remarkable criicifomi temple in the island of Lewis, 

 which he considered displayed striking indications of astronomical arrangement. 



Contents of the Cumbrae tutnulm, from examinatiotis hy Professor Allen Thomson 

 and Dr. Young, of the University of Glasyow. 



Centre Tomb. 



Right femur, 18| inches long, but wanting the head ; with this it might be 19| 

 inches. Adherent calcareous matter near the lower end. Adult male. 



Portion of the lower jaw of a man, near the chin on the right side, containing 

 the canine, two premolar, and the anterior molar teeth ; the first three only slightly 

 worn, but the anterior molar worn down flat into the dentine. The sockets of the 

 middle molar and the outer incisor ])roken through ; the mental angle very pro- 

 minent. A remarkably strong jaw. If inch deep to the point of the canine 

 tooth. 



