;^0() ProcceiHn<is of fhc Rninil Iriah Acadcmij. 



III. -YL:' 

 Stone Ciijcle (See Map). 



Thi.'i is the largest and most important circle of the group at present under 

 consideration. It is a large circle, or rather a series of three concentric circles, 

 composed of small stones. Thus it corresponds, save in size and in the possession 

 of a gallaun, with the circle jnst described. The outer diameter of the outside 

 cii'cle is 102 feet 6 inches. The inside measurement of- the second circle is 

 88 feet 6 inches. The average width of the ambulatory between them (inside 

 measurement) is 4 feet. On the eastern side there is a considerable gap in 

 the outer part of the circle looking towards the two gallauns on the side of 

 the hill, and here there are some indications of an avenue. The compass- 

 bearing taken at right angles to the centre of this opening is 153°. The two 

 outer circles are best defined on the east, fairly well on the south, badly on 

 the north, and not very well on the west. There is no stone more than 4 feet 

 in height, and many of them are much less. With regard to the small central 

 circle which seems to have existed originally this consists now of some scattered 

 stones overgrown with grass and moss. I cannot speak with absolute certainty 

 as to these representing a small circle, but I think that they do so. It is 

 quite impossible to count the stones, but, judging from those visible and from 

 the moss-mounds which represent others, there must originally have been 

 something like 200. The two gallauns " I " are not horizon marks from this 

 circle, but the outcrop and conical Galtee are. The magnetic bearing from 

 the north stone to the southern side of the opening over the outcrop of rock 

 to the top of the conical hill is 1.53°. From the centre of the opening it is 

 155° 5". All the visible stones in this circle are limestone. 



Something must now be said as to the compass-bearings of these two 

 circles " J " and " K." Any person looking round the horizon on a clear day 

 cannot but be struck by the conical peak of the Galtee and the outcrop of stone 

 on the much nearer hill which lies just in front of it. " Here," one says to 

 oneself, "is just the kind of thing which might have attracted the attention of 

 early man as a suitable sight-point for observations of the heavenly bodies, 

 and here is an opportunity of putting some of these theories to a test." 

 Consequently we took the bearings recorded above, and I submitted them to 

 Captain Somerville, whose very interesting remarks I now append. " ' J ' and 

 ' K,' " he says, " are beautiful, and provide an absolutely definite and accurate 

 alignment for the winter solstitial sunrise, if the horizon is elevated about 2°. 

 Again, a difference in elevation from 2° would make a difference of a few days 

 in the date arrived at. But there is no question about it at all ; and if it does 

 torn out to be a few days one way or the other, I should not be surprised. 



