236 The A morpholithic Monuments of Brittany. [April, 



VII. THE DOLMEN MOUNDS AND AMORPHO- 

 LITHIC MONUMENTS OF BRITTANY. 



The Amorpholithic Lines and Avenues. 



By S. P. Oliver, Capt. Royal Artillery, F.R.G.S., 

 Corresponding Member of the Anthropological Institute. 



Part III. 



LUKIS deprecates the proneness of the native 

 archaeologists to dogmatise upon the intended uses 

 and destination of these remains without a sufficient 

 knowledge of their construction (from what we have already 

 quoted, it will be seen that our theorists are not far behind 

 the Breton savants in wild and ingenious supposition) ; and 

 he partly agrees with Mr. Stuart, of Edinburgh, as to circles 

 of stones not being temples, but sepulchral enclosures, but 

 considers that as yet there is but insufficient evidence to 

 show that the terminating circles of Menec and Kerlescant 

 were used as burial-places, although Mr. Lukis himself 

 found, in 1869, fragments of coarse clay vessels, flint scrapers, 

 and chippings, within the area of the latter circle. Mr. Lukis 

 comes to the following conclusion : — " It is possible, therefore, 

 that groups of pillars arranged in lines and circles, and associated 

 together, may have served a purpose in some way connected with 

 the funeral rites or solemnities that preceded interment." Since 

 the above was written, Mr. Lukis has measured and planned 

 a circle at Keswick; within this circle, and touching it, is 

 an internal structure, which has every appearance of having 

 served as a sepulchre ; it may or may not be coeval with 

 the circle, but Mr. Lukis's own impression is that it belongs 

 to the original plan, and, if so, tends to confirm Mr. Stuart's 

 view that these circles are sepulchral. It is a well-attested 

 fact that many of the " Motes " and " Things " in Scotland 

 were surrounded with circles of monoliths, sometimes termed 

 "raises." That many of the circles and lines in Scotland 

 are connected with sepulchral remains appears evident from 

 Sir Henry Dryden's account of the following lines and 

 circles — 



" Lines, Battle Moss, Yarhouse. 



Lines and cist, Garry Whin. 



Lines, ' Many Stones,' Clyth. 



Lines, Camster. 



Circle ? Achanloch. 



Circle, Guidebest, Latheronwheel. 



