140 Mr. George Tate on Ancient Sculptured Mocks, Sfc. 



furnished by Mr. William Procter, jun. ; for other artistic 

 help, I am indebted to Mr. F. R. Wilson and Mr. J. C. 

 Langlands. Here, therefore, the geologist, the antiquary, 

 and the artist have united to produce, as far as practicable, 

 correct representations of the forms of these time-worn sculp- 

 tures. * 



In my notice of the several stones, I shall follow the 

 course adopted by honest naturalists, in attributing every 

 discovery to its proper source. Those who follow in the 

 wake of original observers, know little of the labour endured 

 in the discovery of even apparently trifling facts. Often- 

 times, as I have experienced, days may be spent in wild 

 exposed moors and hills, with no gain save negative results. 

 The discoverer, therefore, of an inscribed stone or of any 

 other antiquarian object, is as much entitled to honourable 

 notice, as the discoverer of a plant or animal. 



I wish it to be distinctly understood, that in this paper I 

 shall deal more with facts than fancies ; and as I shall give 

 an account, not only of the inscribed stones themselves, but 

 also of the ancient remains with which they are associated, 

 I believe, that a collection of authenticated observations will 

 have th-eir value, even though we may not arrive at a full 

 and satisfactory explanation of the meaning of the symbolical 

 figures ; for such an extensive survey of the subject will of 

 itself dissipate some of the crude notions which have been 

 formed as to the meaning of the figures, and which have 

 been founded on a limited knowledge of the facts bearing on 

 the question. 



II. CHARACTERISTIC FIGURES. 



Before noticing each particular stone, it will be useful to 

 describe some of the characteristic figures, to point out the 

 peculiar nature of the sculpturing, and to shew their distri- 

 bution in the Border land. 



The most typical figure is composed of a series of circles 

 around a central hollow or cup, from which proceeds a gutter 

 or radial groove through the series of circles — Fiff. 1., p. 141. 

 In most cases the circles are incomplete or stop short of the 

 radial groove ; but in others, they are complete and join the 



• I have great pleasure in acknowledging the assistance kindly afforded to 

 me in these Northumberland researches by Mr, J. C. Langlands of Old Bewick, 

 the Rev. William Procter, A.M., of Doddington, Mr. Charles Rea of Doddir.g- 

 ton, Mr. William Henderson of Fowberry Mains ; and most especially am I 

 obligated to Mr, William Procter, jun., for aiding me in my re-examination of 

 the district around Doddington, which he has successfully explored. 



