285 



INSCRIBED STONES FOUND AT STAIRFOOT, IN ST. ERME, AND 

 ON HENSBARROW HILL, ST. AUSTELL. 



Investigations as to whether their legends are ancient or modem. 



By ihb Rbv. W. IAGO. B.A., Westhbath, Bodmiic ; lion. Local Sec. Jor Cornwall, of 

 the Society of Antiquaries, London ; and one of the Council of the Royal Institution of 



Cornwall. 



The Stairfoot Inscribed Stone. 



Whenever an inscribed stone (large or small, of interesting 

 or of doubtful character) is brought to light in Cornwall, it is 

 desirable that information should be given to the Eoyal Institu- 

 tion of the county, so that its true archaeological value may be 

 ascertained and recorded. 



A water-worn granite pebble, with some marks cut upon it, 

 was discovered in the stream, at Stairfoot, in the parish of St. 

 Erme, and was forwarded by the Rector, the Rev. T. S. 

 Stephens, to the Institution, in May 1882, together with a memor- 

 andum stating where it was found. Mr. Stephens has therefore 

 deserved the thanks of our Society. 



Originally the stone was wedge-shaped, triangular in section, 

 but by the rounding off of all its angles it has become nearly 

 spherical. — (See Plate || ) 



When placed to stand with (what was once) its edge upward, 

 it measures as follows : — height 6 inches, width 6J inches, 

 thickness at base 5 inches. In this position the inscription 

 appears on its front face. 



It is evident that the letters were not cut upon the stone 

 until after its attrition had been effected, by much friction on 

 some sea beach, or by a long period of rolling in the bed of a 

 stream. 



Having been accepted for the Museum, the stone was 

 exhibited at the Spring Meeting of the Institution in the year 

 above-mentioned, but no definite conclusion was then arrived at, 

 with regard to the age of the legend, and no account of it has 

 hitherto appeared in the Journal. I therefore offer the following 

 notes to assist in solving any uncertainty that may surround it. 



