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On Three British Cists, one of them containing an Urn, 

 found near Gallaly Castle, Northumberland, in 1891. 

 By Dr Hardy. (Plate X.) 



WniLE uncovering the surface of the sandstone rock of the 

 Castle Hill Quarry, Callaly Castle, which is situated at the 

 base of the hill, and near the shepherd's house, three Cists 

 were disclosed by the workmen. They were placed not over 

 3 or 4 feet deep in the soil, which was of "rubbly rotten 

 stuff," mostly crumbling stone. The rock is of a soft character, 

 . of a yellow colour. The first Cist held an Urn, and then 

 two more graves were found within a few yards of each 

 other, one of which contained human bones, consisting of part 

 of a skull, together with some other bones, which, from their 

 size, appear to have been those of a man of big proportions. 

 The third grave was empty, no traces of anything could be 

 observed therein. 



The Urn (see Plate X.) was in perfect condition. It has a 

 well formed lip, which is ornamented within by oblique lines, 

 varied with arcs. The neck is encircled by three (two more 

 distinct) raised bands, attended by dotted lines, followed, 

 where the Urn is widest, by a series of raised bosses, placed 

 within the vacancies of a zig-zag or vandyked undulating 

 series of triple bands ; which are succeeded by a triple series 

 of cross bands, separated by lines of dots. After a hiatus, 

 these transverse bands, five in number, become undulated, 

 and lie closer together, the lower one being more twisted 

 than the preceding. The bottom is flattish, but has a well 

 marked outer margin. The bands are mostly crossed by short 

 impressed lines, not quite regular in direction. The diameter 

 across the mouth is 6 inches ; the circumference at three 

 measurements are 19J, 19, and 16^ inches; the diameter of 

 the bottom is 4 inches. 



The Urn and the fragments of the bones are preserved 

 in Major Browne's Museum at the Castle. 



Major Browne had the three Cists brought down from off 

 the Hill to the Castle, where they were again fitted up in a 

 quiet corner, under some beech trees. This shady sequestered 

 nook is near the walk side on the south-east upper end of 

 the pond ; and the tombs are reconstructed in a position 



