50 Recent Archaeological Explorations in Co. Sligo. 



is about 130 yards. The centre alignment is formed of the 

 largest stones, and they increase in size towards the western 

 end. Where this line terminates to the west, there are two 

 enormous menhirs, one of which measures 1 1 feet in height 

 and 42 feet in girth, the other measures 10 feet in height and 30 

 feet in girth. These two immense stones stand quite closely 

 together, and seem from the cleavage to have been originally 

 one. There is an almost complete circle of large boulders, of 

 which the two whose dimensions I have given form the centre. 

 Six stones form the circumference, separated from each other 

 by a distance of about 30 yards, while their distance from the 

 two central stones varies from 25 to 30 yards ; there is one 

 stone wanting to make the circle complete. There is a row of 

 stones extending north and south, dividing this circle almost 

 equally in a line with the two central boulders. Besides the 

 two latter there are ten very large stones standing upright — 

 the distance separating them is from 24 to 35 yards, and the 

 entire distance they extend is about 226 yards, about equal to 

 the distance separating the lines that run east to west. In the 

 latter lines the stones are placed closely together, while in that 

 extending north and south they are separated from each other 

 as already mentioned, and are of much larger size. 



Reference was next made to similar alignments found in 

 Brittany, in the department of the Morbihan, of which a few 

 views were shown on the screen and compared with ■ those in 

 Sligo. Antiquarians who have spent a great deal of time and 

 research in examining the lines of Carnac, Menec, and Ker- 

 lescan, have not arrived at a definite conclusion as to the use of 

 these monuments in the ceremonies of the ancient inhabitants 

 of Brittany. The general opinion is, they were in some way 

 connected with sepulchral structures, and had a place in the 

 worship of the early Celtic tribes. 



Proceeding from where the alignments end on the eastern 

 side down hill towards Lough Gill, we entered a field containing 

 the remains of a small circular fort. In the same field are 18 

 small cairns, or heaps of loose stones, with other stones placed 

 in situ outlining the graves, for they are evidently sepulchral 



