428 EEPORT— 1901. 



240 to 1 (=20 feet to an inch). The exact position of each stone was 

 taken by means of bearings and triangulation from fixed points, checked 

 by cross-measurements. The plateau on which the megahths lie is 

 encompassed by a fosse, and averages about 49 metres in diameter. The 

 figure formed by the circle of stones is pear-shaped, the top of the pear 

 to the south-east, the point to the north-west. It consists of rough 

 unhewn stone slabs of mountain limestone, of which many of the largest 

 average 3 metres in length by lm-40 in breadth : they are of variable 

 thickness, extremely irregular in form, and some are fractured ; they all, 

 ■with one exception, lie upon the ground, many in a somewhat oblique 

 position, all more or less recumbent. The weathering of their surfaces, 

 the cleavage, the ' pot-holes ' in them, are intensely interesting, especially 

 to the geologist. In giving numbers to the stones (Nos. I. to XLVl., 

 in the plan) there is no pretension made to count the original number of 

 the stones as put into position by the constructors of the monument ; 

 they are simply numbered to facilitate reference and to distinguish 

 one from another in describing them. Some of the very small stones 

 and stumps have been numbered separately (Nos. 1 to 13). The 

 position and slope of the stones individually are extremely varied : 

 the majority lie in shallow depressions, although some are quite on a 

 level with the general turf line ; others, again, are surrounded by slight 

 mounds, the turf in many cases growing round and over the sides of the 

 stones. The longest stone is in the centre of the circle (No. II.), which 

 measures 4™-57 in length, whilst the widest is also in the centre (No. I.), 

 2™-44 in width. The largest stone in the circle is No. X., the length 

 of which is 3'"-96, and the width l™-83. There is one exception to the 

 stones being recumbent, and that is No. XVI., on the west side, which 

 leans towards the north-east at about 35° or 40° with the surface of the 

 surrounding turf : it stands at its highest part l'"-06 from the ground. 

 It would be desirable to excavate round some of the stones of the circle 

 to endeavour to find holes in which these monoliths may have originally 

 stood. This kind of thing has been done in the exploration of circles 

 on Dartmoor. Dr. Pegge mentions an old man who saw some of the 

 stones standing,' and Mr. Bateman another.'- Glover, in his 'History 

 of the County of Derby,3 mentions a third, and tersely adds that 'this 

 secondary kind of evidence does not seem entitled to much credit.' 



The published plans of Arbor Low are for the most part far from 

 correct. Sir J. G. Wilkinson's plan being the only exception.^ In this 

 small plan the position of the circle of stones is fairly correct, although 

 there are several discrepancies in the proportional sizes of the stones, and 

 the central group should be a few feet further north-west and west. 



The area, or plateau, enclosed by the fosse presents a very uneven 

 surface, but the contours across this part of the plan have been delineated 

 to follow the general slope of the gi-ound, and not to mark every little 

 depression or slight elevation as it occurred. The contours, of 5 foot 

 (15 cm.) vertical height, show the shape of the monument and its 

 immediate surroundings within the ' square.' The highest contour comes 

 on the top of the tumulus on the south- east rampart (opened by Bate- 

 man), the lowest, at the northern corner of the survey, showing a fall of 

 7111.47 jjj ^.jjg ground from top to lowest part. It is not unusual to take 



' Archaologia, vol. vii. pp. 131-148. 



■■' Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc, vol. xvi. p. 116. 



' Published in 1829, vol. 1. p. 275. * Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc, vol. xvi. pi. 9, 



