Finch on the Celtic Antiquities of America. ml 



of tools with which to shape and polish masses of rocks* 

 and the first national monuments we read of in sacred writ 

 were rude stones, either placed alone, formed into a circle, 

 or piled into a heap. 



These shapeless stones are proofs of the highest antiquity 

 in any nation where they are found, and were erected by 

 men of whom tradition has scarcely preserved even the 

 name : they remind us of times to which our calculations 

 and our history do not reach. 



The Celts or Scythians, who gradually migrated from 

 the borders of Assyria and Palestine, have left remains of 

 their language and religion, in the central and norlhern re- 

 gions of Asia, in England, France, Germany, Russia, and 

 Scandinavia. Let us ascertain if no memorials of their res- 

 idence can be traced in this country. 



The monuments which they erected, while in distinct 

 hordes they successively traversed the various quarters of 

 the world, may be divided into five species. 1st. Crom- 

 lechs. 2d. Stones of memorial or sacrifice. 3d Circles of 

 memorial. 4lh. Rocking Stones. 5th. Tumuli or Barrows. 



1. We begin with the ancient and venerable cromlechs,by 

 which, as an unerring guide, the tribes of men who erected 

 them may be identified ; they are of a peculiar structure, 

 one huge stone, elevated two feet or more above the ground, 

 higher at one end, and supported by several stones placed 

 underneath. In Eirgland, some of the top stones, or rather 

 rocks, are of an enormous size, and similar structures are 

 found in various parts of Europe and Asia. These majestic 

 and durable stone monuments appear built to defy the 

 knowledge and foil the curiosity of the present race of men ; 

 the purpose for which they were erected is unknown, and 

 various have been the opinions upon this subject. 



They have successively been called tombs, small temples 

 for the residence of country divinities, and altars contamina- 

 ted with the dreadful sacrifice of human victims. 



" The barbarous priests some dreadful God adore, 

 And sprinkle every stone with human gore." 



The voice of history, with perhaps too just a decision, af- 

 fixes the perpetration of this enormity upon all the tribes 

 who departed from the land of Scythia; but whether these 

 were the altars consecrated for such purposes, is one of those 

 secrets which perhaps even time can never solve. 



