376 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



towards the N. to the extent of 1 "7 foot. The iron-ore layer was seen in 

 its usual position on the sides of the hole. 



The most interesting result of this excavation was the finding of fairly 

 large blocks of granite in such positions as to clearly indicate that they 

 were packed into the hole as wedges to support the pointed base of the 

 stone {cf. Stonehenge). This feature was not observed elsewhere during 

 the excavations. No relics were found here, nor i-ound Stones II or IV. 



Standing Stone IV. — As this stone leans towards the S. to the extent 

 of about 15° from the vertical, it was necessary to prop it up during the 

 excavation with a stout pole. We reached the bottom of the stone, which 

 had a flat base, at 1-1 foot below the depression, 2'1 feet below its 

 surrounding tussock, and about 2-5 feet below the general turf level to 

 the S.W. Peaty mould extended to a depth of 0-4 foot below the depres- 

 sion ; the remainder, 07 foot, to the bottom, consisting of a sandy material 

 derived from decomposed granite. There had been no attempt to pack 

 the base with blocks of granite, only a few small pieces being found mixed 

 ■with the soil, as in other parts of the circle. The total height of this 

 monolith, including the portion sunk in the ground, proved to be 5-9 feet. 



Between Stones VI and VII we made a small excavation 5 feet 

 square, although the position was several feet outside the line of the 

 circle. Before digging, a marked depression was observed, and it was 

 thought possible that a stone might once have stood there. There was 

 certainly a rough hole of artificial character, but nothing was proved by 

 the excavation. 



Standing Stone VII. — An oval area measuring 16 by 14 feet was 

 trenched round this erect stone. The stability of the stone was not 

 interfered with, as the hole in which it stood was not disturbed, nor the 

 tussock encircling it. This excavation was made in the endeavour to 

 find relics round the stone, but nothing was revealed. 



Standing Stone X. — With the same object in view an oval area 17 by 

 15 feet was trenched round this stone and up to Stone IX, now prostrate. 

 As in the case of Stone VII, the hole in which it stood was not interfered 

 with, and the trenching was not carried to a greater depth than the 

 layer of bog iron-ore. At ' 4 ' on plan, 5 feet S. of the stone and 0-9 foot 

 beneath the surface, a long and narrow flint flake (length 655 mm.) was 

 found. It has a pronounced dorsal ridge, and is of triangular cross- 

 section ; a small facet known as an ^raillure exists on the bulb of per- 

 cussion. 



Prostrate Stone XL — Excavations round this stone revealed no hole, 

 penetrating the subsoil, in which it could have stood. This negative 

 evidence was what we wanted, as it will be seen by reference to the plan 

 that the stone rests 5 or 6 feet to the S. of the place in which we 

 should expect to.find it, viz., in the line of the true circle. The digging 

 showed that the stone was 0-8 foot in maximum thickness and that the 

 S. end was quite flat. No relics were found here or near Stone XII. 



Prostrate Stone XII. — Excavations were made round the N.N.E. of 

 this stone to ascertain whether a pit existed on the line of the circle and 

 ■whether the stone had fallen outwards. A distinct hole was discovered, 

 it having been cut through the iron-ore floor reached at a depth of 

 1-1 foot from the depression in which the stone now rests. The pit was 

 2-5 feet deep below the field-level. The base was found to partly cover 

 its hole. No packing of granite blocks for the support of the stone was 

 observed. 



