156 Mr. W. Stevenson on a Cist found at Broomhill. 



having either seen or heard of anything similar in this flat part 

 of Berwickshire, we should very much like to have it explained 

 to us. In fact, we know far too little of optics ourselves, to 

 have a chance of accounting for what I have described, unless 

 you have the kindness to enlighten us. 



Believe me, dear Sir, 



With sincere regard, 

 Yours truly, 



Elizabeth Bell. 



On a Cist found at Broomhill, near Dunse. 

 By William Stevenson. 



In January last, in ploughing a field on the farm of Broomhill, 

 little more than a mile east from Dunse, Mr. Adam Black, 

 steward on that farm, discovered a good example of the ancient 

 " cist," or stone coffin. It consisted of four slabs of sandstone, of 

 about 2 inches thick each, placed on edge so as to form an irre- 

 gular quadrangle, the sides of which measured respectively 40, 

 36, 18 and 12 inches. The depth was about 20 inches, and the 

 direction nearly due north and south. The cover consisted of a 

 large irregular slab, about 6 inches thick, which being only par- 

 tially covered with earth, was caught by the plough ; and on 

 being removed, the interior of the cist was exposed. Near the 

 north end an urn was found, lying on its side, but quite empty. 

 This was of excellent workmanship, and of a very elegant shape. 

 It was about 6 inches high, and nearly the same in diameter at 

 the lip and shoulder, between which it contracted a little, form- 

 ing a collar, neatly ornamented on the outside. It tapered gra- 

 dually from the shoulder to the bottom, where the diameter was 

 3i inches. It was ornamented by seven double rows of small 

 round pits, running from the collar downwards. It was formed 

 of a coarse imperfectly baked clay, which appears to have been 

 procured from the immediate neighbourhood, where a similar 

 clay, derived from the disintegration of a variety of amygdaloid, 

 which is rather rare in Berwickshire, may still be met with. 

 It was in such a fragile state, that it broke to pieces on being- 

 handled ; but the fragments were carefully preserved. 



The only other relics found in the cist were a portion of a 

 skull and a few fragments of bones. These were tolerably well 

 preserved, so much so that the absence of the remainder of the 

 skeleton appears rather difficult to account for. The cist was 

 situated upon the summit of a conspicuous knoll called the 

 " Piper's Knowe." Similar cists have been found within the last 

 twenty years at Chalkielaw, Swallowdean and Dunselaw — in each 



