340 



Cist and Urii found on Harelaic Hill, Chirnside. Com- 

 municated by James Hewat Craw, West Foulden. 



(Plate XVIII.) 



On the 30th March 1906, while excavating a reservoir for 

 the new Chirnside water supply, the workmen discovered a 

 prehistoric burial Cist. 



The situation, which is on the crest of Harelaw Hill, about 

 a quarter of a mile North-East of Chirnside village, is the 

 highest point in the parish, being 466 feet above sea-level. 

 On this hill stood at one time a cairn, which seems to have 

 been of considerable dimensions, and which is supposed to 

 have given to Chirnside its name. 



The Cist, which lay due East and West, was formed of 

 six slabs, two on each side and one at each end, 27 inches 

 high ; one massive stone, 5 feet 8 inches by 3 feet, served as 

 a cover, and employed six men in its removal". The side 

 slabs were placed upright, those at the ends inclined inwards. 

 The length of the Cist was 6 feet, the breadth 3 feet, and 

 the top of the cover was 13 inches below the surface of 

 the ground. 



The interior of the Cist was half filled with soil. At the 

 West end were found a number of human bones — part of a 

 skull -{^e inches thick, one bone of the hand, and a number 

 of bones of the legs and feet ; also a piece of flint showing 

 no trace of manufacture. At the North-East corner was 

 found an earthenware Urn of the drinking-cup type, in an 

 upright position. It was entire when discovered, but was 

 unfortunately broken in removal. No beads or implements 

 of any kind were found either in the Cist or in the Urn, 

 and the bones showed no traces of fire. The following are 

 the measurements of the Urn, which is formed of fine red 

 clay, and is -i-s- inches thick: — height, 7| inches; width at 

 top, 6^ inches ; width at bottom, 3| inches ; circumference, 

 18| inches; circumference at neck, 16| inches. It is highly 

 ornamented, but has no markings on the bottom, or in the 

 interior. The ornamentation consists of straight dotted lines 

 forming chevrons, herring bones, and zig/.ags. 



