144 Mr. George Tate on Ancient Sculptured Itoclcs, Sfd 



were in use ; for on the flanks of the Cheviots, and even on 

 the summits of the minor hills, there are numbers of forts, 

 dwellings, and sepulchres, of the same character and age, as 

 those associated with the inscribed stones ; and it might 

 therefore be inferred, that no sculptures are to be found on 

 the porphyry of the Cheviots, because the rock was intract- 

 able under stone tools. 



These inscribed rocks occur on one or other of the beds of 

 thick sandstone, which is near the base of the mountain 

 limestone formation, and which forms the sub-stratum of the 

 high moor-lands of Northumberland, rising up in some cases 

 to the height of 1400 feet above the sea level. On the rough 

 surface of the rock, where it crops out in different platforms 

 on these hills, we find these sculptures. In the north-west 

 part of the district, they occur on the upper surface of the 

 cliffs near Routing Linn, about six miles northward of 

 Wooler — they are scattered in great profusion on the ridges 

 in the moor-land at Harelaw, Horton, and Doddington, and 

 on Gled law — they are on the outbreak of rock at Cuddy's 

 Cove — they are found on the summit of Whitsunbank, 

 Chatton Law, and Old Bewick Hill ; they have been found 

 in the Beanley and North Charlton Moors ; they existed in 

 Cartington Cove near Rothbury ; and they have been dis- 

 covered, but not in situ, in the parish of Stamfordham. Very 

 probably, they will hereafter be found in the continuation of 

 this range of sandstone into the Redesdale and Tynedale 

 Moors. When found in situ, they are always in high 

 grounds — generally on lofty hills, some of which are nearly 

 800 feet above the sea level. 



V. ^DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT INSCRIBED ROCKS. 



Turning now to the individual rocks in Northumberland, 

 I shall follow their geographical range, and as we pass along, 

 notice the ancient remains with which they are associated. 



Routing Linn, Hunter's Moor, and Ford West Field. 



Routing Linn. — The great stone at Routing Linn, though 

 not the first discovered, may be first described, as it is nearly 

 the most northerly in situation, and contains the largest 

 number and greatest variety of figures. It is situated on the 

 edge of wild dreary moor-lands, about midway between Dod- 

 dington and Ford, by the side of a burn, which tumbles over 

 a sandstone cliff some 30 feet in height, into the Linn 

 (Celtic) or pool at its base. The meaning of the name is 



