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Notice of a Cist found near Dunse. By Wm. Stevenson. 



In July last, whilst excavating gravel for ballast on the line 

 of the Berwickshire Railway, near Grueldykes, (about half a 

 mile from Dunse Station,) the workmen displaced the head 

 slab of a Cist, exposing a full view of the interior. Mr Prod- 

 ham, one of the contractors, was fortunately present at the 

 time. He immediately stopped further operations and walked 

 to Dunse, calling upon Dr M^Watt, (one of our members,) 

 and the writer of this notice, who at once returned with him 

 to the spot. We found inside the Cist the perfect skeleton of 

 an adult male, apparently of middle age and of medium 

 height, (say 5 feet 8.) The teeth as well as all the bones 

 were beautifully preserved. The dimensions of the Cist, 

 which was formed of sandstone slabs from the neighbourhood, 

 placed in the usual manner, were 4 feet long by 18 inches 

 wide and 20 inches deep, the body having been deposited in 

 the customary bent position with the head to the west. An 

 urn was found near the left shoulder, broken apparently at 

 the time of sepulture, and showing no appearance of having 

 ever contained anything. No weapons nor other relics were 

 to be seen. The position of the Cist was about 2 feet below 

 the surface of a flattish gravel knoll, which has been under 

 the plough for a long period. There was not the slightest 

 appearance of its having been previously disturbed. The 

 urn shews the ordinary incised zigzag style of marking, dif- 

 fering however a little in the pattern from some others which 

 have been found in the district within the last 30 years. 

 May not this, as well as the facts of the integrity of the skele- 

 ton, and the empty broken urn, have a significance well 

 understood, doubtless, by the aboriginal inhabitants of this 

 part of our island, but the translation of which will require 

 much pains and labour from skilful and accomplished anti- 

 quaries ? The cranium, a femur, a tooth, and the remains 

 of the urn have been deposited in the Museum of the Boyal 

 Scottish Antiquarian Society in Edinburgh. 



