ON THE AGE OF STONE CIRCLES 427 



The Age of Stone Circles. — Eeport of the Committee, consisting of 

 Dr. J. G. Garson (Chairman), Mr. H. Balfour (Secretary), Sir 

 John Evans, Mr. C. H. Eead, Professor R. Meldola, Mr. A. J. 

 Evans, Dr. R. Munro, Professor Boyd Dawkins, and Mr. A. L. 

 Lewis, appointed to conduct JExplorations with the object of Ascer- 

 taining the Age of Stone Circles. (Drawn up) by the Chairman.) 



The Committee have to report that after careful consideration of the 

 various stone circles in different parts of the country that of Arbor Low 

 in Derbyshire was fixed upon as the most convenient and suitable for the 

 exploration which the grant at their disposal would permit of being 

 undertaken, a well marked ditch and rampart surrounding it, while the 

 circle itself is fairly complete as regards the stones forming it, although 

 none of these are now standing. The consent of the ground landlord, 

 the Duke of Rutland, was freely given for the exploration, as was also that 

 of the First Commissioner of Works, under whose care the circle is placed 

 as an ancient monument under the Act of Parliament. The tenant of 

 the farm, Mr. Warrilow, likewise readily acquiesced in the project. The 

 Committee were fortunate enough with the consent of the chairman and 

 committee of the Taunton Museum to secure the services of Mr. H. St. 

 George Gray, the curator of that museum, who has had much experience, 

 acquired under the late General Pitt-Rivers, to direct the exploration. 

 Finally, through the kindness of Mr. A. Pitt- Rivers, the excellent 

 apparatus used by his father in his excavations was placed at their dis- 

 posal. To one and all of these gentlemen the best thanks of the 

 Committee are due for the part they have taken in facilitating the exami- 

 nation of this important and interesting monument of antiquity. 



The following is the report submitted to the Committee by Mr. Gray 

 which gives an account of the work conducted by him, after which follow 

 reports by Mr. H. Balfour on the stone implements found, and by Dr. 

 Garson on the human remains. 



On the Excavations at Arbor Loiv, August 190L 

 By H. St. George Gray. 



Arbor Low is situated in one of the most sparsely inhabited districts 

 of Derbyshire, in the parish of Bakewell, from which town it is 4| miles 

 distant in a south-westerly direction as the crow ilies. The nearest 

 railway station is Parsley Hay, one mile to the west, on the new Buxton 

 and Ashbourne Railway. Hartington is 2| miles to the S.W. of Arbor 

 Low, Middleton 2;^ miles to the east, and Monyash 2 miles to the north. 

 The monument, which is situated on a long ridge of hill nearly 1,200 

 feet above the sea-level, commands a mo.st extensive view towards Buxton 

 and Bakewell, in a northerly and easterly direction. 



Preliminary arrangements having been made and the workmen having 

 been directed to remove turf in various places, the first thing to do was 

 to begin a complete survey of the monument. A square (98 metres = 320 

 feet on each side) was formed round the vallum, enclosing an area of 

 about 2^ acres, and the plan of the stones was commenced at a scale of 



