SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—H. 359 
Saturday, September 8. 
Excursion to Barmekin of Echt, Sunhoney Stone Circle, and Midmar. 
Monday, September 10. 
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS by Capt. T. A. Joyce on The use and origin of 
Yerba Maté (10.0). (See p. 161.)2 
Mr. A. Lestre ArRMsTRONG.—The excavation of two Bronze Age burial 
cairns and associated urn-fields at Grappenhall in the Mersey valley, 
N. Cheshire (10.45). 
These cairns appear to have been erected upon a dry sandy heath. Subse- 
quent climatic changes caused the deposition of wind-borne sand over 
a wide area which, at this point, raised the general surface level 3 ft. and 
entirely buried the cairns. Consequently they were preserved intact until 
revealed by chance in 1930. Recent acquisition of the site for building 
enabled a complete examination to be made of both cairns and a large part 
of their surroundings. Each contained a primary cist burial of cremated 
remains, early Middle Bronze Age in date, and secondary burials of crema- 
tions of late Middle Bronze Age date. A small decorated vessel, suggesting 
a hybrid form of food-vessel and beaker, and a richly decorated food-vessel, 
were associated with the primary burials, also leaf and kite-shaped flint 
_arrow-heads. A tri-partite urn enclosed a secondary burial. Excavations 
outside the cairns revealed in each case an associated urn-field which 
_ yielded three tri-partite urns of latest Middle Bronze Age type and numerous 
deposits of cremated remains. 
The early pottery exhibits marked Irish influences, and a study of the 
Bronze Age antiquities of the locality provides evidence indicating that 
Warrington was the port on the Mersey through which trade passed between 
Ireland and the Bronze Age settlements of Derbyshire ; also, but in lesser 
degree, with Yorkshire and the Midlands. The apparent trade routes with 
these areas were described and discussed. 
Rt. Hon. Lord RacLan.—The cult of animals (11.30). 
The religio-sociological aspect of animals, as distinct from the purely 
“utilitarian, may be discussed under eight heads: (1) Totemism. (2) 
Talking animals. (3) The ceremonial wearing of horns, skins, etc. (4) 
_Lycanthropy. (5) Gods in animal form. (6) Animal sacrifices. (7) 
‘Animals as omens. (8) Animals as emblems and symbols. 
In all these cases there are human and animal alternatives : (1) Linked 
clans. (2) The talking animal identified with a man. (3) The wearing of 
human masks, scalps, etc. (4) Human shape-changing. (5) Gods with 
both human and animal forms. (6) Human sacrifices. (7) Human beings 
asomens. (8) Female figures, etc., as emblems and symbols. 
_ We find, however, that real people are never identified with real animals. 
Even small children do not believe that real animals can talk. The were- 
wolf is a magic wolf, never a real wolf. Wee find further that in all the eight 
classes mentioned above there are substitutes which are neither human 
* A model of this stone circle, by Mr. John A. Gentles, together with some 
Aberdeen palzoliths, was exhibited in Marischal College during the meeting. 
2 In the absence of the President, the address was read by Prof. H. J. Fleure. 
