Gray — Irish Cromlechs. 229 



should, therefore, certainly be used as in the text — that is, that 

 the word ' Cromlech' should include stone circles, and ' Dolmen ' 

 should be applied to stone chambers'''* 



The terms Cromlech and Dolmen may be almost etymological 

 equivalents, yet the adoption of the term " Dolmen" would not 

 be sufficiently distinctive for our purpose, because the Conti- 

 nental archaeologists include several kinds of monuments under 

 that denomination. The term is not of Celtic origin, and it 

 does not harmonise with Irish words. Mr. Edward T. Stevens, 

 in " Flint Chips,"f describes chambered tumuli under the 

 name of Dolmens. It will be observed that the authors just 

 quoted employ both the terms, "Dolmen" and " Cromlech," in 

 a generic rather than in a specific sense, and describe a great 

 variety of monuments under the respective terms. See also 

 " Essai sur les Dolmens," by Baron de Bonstetten, of Geneva. 

 Dr. Lukis, who has done good service in exploring the ancient 

 monuments of the Channel Islands, would include all our crom- 

 lechs under the general term "chambered tumuli," being of 

 opinion that all were at one time of their history covered.! 



In the first volume of the "Royal Irish Academy Museum 

 Catalogue," the author, Sir W. Wilde, referring to the chamber 

 found in Phoenix Park, says : — " This discovery went far to 

 establish the belief that cromlechs were but uncovered tumuli, 

 which originally contained sepulchral remains." Llewellyn 

 Jewett adopts the theory of Dr. Lukis, and says that researches 

 " prove beyond doubt that the cromlechs are neither more nor 

 less than sepulchral chambers denuded of their mounds."§ On 

 this point Mr. Ferguson, a well qualified authority, maintains a 

 contrary opinion, and in his work on Rude Stone Monuments, 

 says — " It seems impossible to believe that the bulk of those we 

 now see were ever hidden by an earthen covering. "|| 



* Pre-historic Times. By Sir John Lubbock. Page 104. 

 f Flint Chips. A Guide to Pre-historic Archaeology. Page 105. 

 X Rev. W. C. Lukis, Norwich. Vol. of Pre-Historic Congress. Capt. Oliver, R.A., 



" Megalithic Structures of the Channel Islands." 

 § Grave Mounds and their Contents. Page 51. 



|| Rude Stone Monuments in all Countries. By James Ferguson, D.C.L., F.R.S. 

 London, 1872. Page 44. 



