152 REV. G. R. HALL ON A BARROW 



"Dan's Cairn," but without any results worthy of remark.* An 

 immense mound of earth, with deep surrounding fosse, stands at 

 the junction of two ravines, under the great basaltic crags of 

 Gunnarton. It resembles the so-called bell-shaped or conical 

 barrow of the South of England, though from the conforma- 

 tion of double ramparts and ditches which pass from brink to 

 brink of the adjoining ravines, the idea of its use as a work of 

 defence and post of observation is suggested to an observer. 

 The "Money-Hill," as it is popularly named, from the local 

 tradition of concealed treasure, was lately excavated under the 

 direction of the Rev. "W. Greenwell, to whom I have been much 

 indebted for information on disputed points in connection with 

 the examination of the Warkshaugh barrow, and in preparing 

 the present account of its opening and contents. In the case of 

 the Gunnarton Money-Hill we came upon traces of a mediaeval 

 exploration, in the shape of the fragment of a drinking- vessel of 

 that period. But the evidence of its sepulchral origin was at 

 best negative, as no sufficient traces of inhumation were found 

 to warrant any strong opinion — though such a result, after the 

 lapse of so many ages from its first formation, cannot be consi- 

 dered unexpected. Nor is it conclusive proof against the possi- 

 bility of an early interment, as many of the more ancient barrows, 

 generally allowed to be such, have proved similarly unproductive. 

 This very remarkable mound and its associated works (whether 

 it was made for interment, for defence, or as a session mound for 



* This barrow is about forty feet in diameter, and three feet high, after being used as a 

 quarry for the formation of the neighbouring fence walls. The original interment had no 

 doubt been reached, and every trace of associated relies destroyed. The name is probably a 

 traditional reminiscence of the fearful ravages of the North-men, Dan being a familiar ren- 

 dering of Dane, as "Dan's Linn," a precipitous escarpment of limestone with ancient iron- 

 stone workings beneath, occurs about two miles to the west of the cairn. (Compare the 

 "Dane's Holes" and "Danes' Graves" of Durham and Yorkshire.) In one of the smaller 

 barrows was found at the centre a circle of stones, set on edge, about three feet in diameter, 

 within which only fragments of charcoal and cliippings of freestone reddened by the action 

 of fire were noticed. A similar circle was discovered by the Rev. W. Greenwell, in one of 

 the howes which he opened in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It contained two urns with 

 burnt bones, and a smaller urn inverted over the mouth of one of the larger urns. The 

 stones composing the barrow were in both cases much burnt. (See Archaeological Journal, 

 Vol. XXII, Notices of the Examination of Ancient Grave Hills in the North Riding of 

 Yorkshire, in the year 1864.) 



