ON THE AGE OF STONE CIRCLES. 371 



to suggest that these two circles belong to different periods. In structure 

 they present similar general features, although the external characteristics 

 which are so splendidly defined at Arbor Low are considerably obscured 

 at the ' Stripple Stones,' where the very slight fosse and vallum, though 

 distinguishable in places, are very ill-defined and even untraceable in 

 other parts. 



An admirable survey of the 'Stripple Stones ' was made by Mr. Gray, 

 whose detailed report upon the circle and the excavations is appended ; 

 and, in addition, surface examinations were made of the Trippet Stones 

 and Leaze Circles, plans of which were prepared. 



The Committee ask to be reappointed and to be allowed to retain the 

 unspent balance of the grant, with a view to its being used to cover the 

 expenses of Mi\ Gray and an assistant in making accurate survey plans 

 of Fernacre and Stannon Circles, in order that the survey of the whole 

 of this group of Cornish circles may be completed. It is not proposed to 

 conduct further excavations — at present, at any rate. 



Excavations at the Stripple Stones, E. Cornwall, 1905. 

 By H. St. George Gray. 



I. The Position of the Circle. 



The Stripple Stones — the largest stone circle of Devon and Cornwall, 

 excepting the Fernacre Circle, which equals it — is situated in East Corn- 

 wall, in the ancient deanery of Trigg Minor, on the portion of Bodmin 

 Moors known as Hawkstor Downs. From Bodmin the circle is 1^ miles, 

 as the crow flies, in a N.E. direction ; 9| furlongs N. of Temple ; 3 miles 

 E.N.E. of Blisland Church (in which parish it is located) j and 5| miles 

 S.S.E. of Camelford. The most important ancient monuments in the 

 vicinity are at the following distances from the Stripple Stones : — The 

 Trippet Stones, W.S.W., 4,170 feet (over | mile) ; the Leaze Circle, 

 N.N.W., 7,230 feet (rather less than \^ mile) ; the Stannon Circle, 

 .N.N.W., 16,8.50 feet (about ^ miles); the Fernacre Circle, due N., 

 15,730 feet (3 miles); and King Arthur's Hall, N.N. W., about 1| mile. 

 The nearest part of the disused Hawkstor china-clay works is ^ mile 

 distant to the S.W., between which and the circle is a small farmhouse. 

 Hawkstor farmhouse is about J mile to the N.E. Neither of these 

 farms is marked on the 6-inch Ordnance sheets published in 1890. 



There is a barrow to the E., containing a cist, in the adjoining corn- 

 field, which, according to Mr. Lukis, is 232 feet from the stone in the 

 middle of the circle.^ 



The circle is on the S.E. slope of Hawkstor, about 90 feet lower than 

 the summit, i.e., about 915 feet above sea-level. Open downland sur- 

 rounded it on all sides until recent years ; but in or about 1885 a new 

 ' take,' or enclosure, was made, the N.W. and N.E. walls of which were 

 built across the E. and N.E. portions of the vallum of the Stripple 

 Stones, which has entirely ruined these parts of the circle, fosse, and 

 vallum. 



The area on which the circle is placed, although on a gentle slope, is 

 flatter than any of the ground in the immediate vicinity. 



Rough Tor is due N. of the Stripple Stones, and Garrow Tor and the 



' My own measurement gave 2.36 feet from the approximate centre of the barrow 

 to the N.W. corner of the central stone of the circle. 



BB 2 



