

NEOLITHIC STONE CIRCLE AT PORT ERIN. 163 



huts, but scarcely for the great numbers found in the 

 graves, (see below p. 166). 



Somewhat further east than this village of " Lhag-ny- 

 Boirey " we found the circular foundations of 3 or 4 more 

 huts measuring from 8 to 12 feet in diameter, and like the 

 others these are on the line of one of the ancient fences (see 

 PL X). Lower down the hill and still further to the east 

 are half a dozen more such hut foundations. Their outside 

 diameters are from 4 to 5 yards, and the stones forming 

 them — about 12 in a circle — measure about 4 feet by 2 feet 

 and project about 2 feet above the surface; they are un- 

 hewn blocks of the same clay slate of which the fences and 

 the circle and the rock of the hill are composed. Like the 

 other huts these are also on the line of one of the ancient 

 fences and (also like the rest) occupy a sheltered situation 

 looking to the north {i.e., with an uninterrupted view 

 across the lower ground to the remainder of the Isle of 

 Man). This village has the further advantage of being 

 just above the spring which is known as " Chibbyrt-ny- 

 Garval," Horse- well. 



One is tempted to suggest that we may have yet 

 another of these ancient villages existing to this day in 

 Cregneash, on the other slope of the hill about 250 yards 

 to the south of the cairn and usually regarded as one of 

 the very few typical old Manks villages left. Possibly 

 some indication of this may yet be found by a careful 

 examination of the gardens and bases of the cottages at 

 Cregneash, but in the meantime it is interesting to note 

 that Sir George Head writing in 1837 in his "Home Tour " 

 (Vol. II, p. 23) speaks of a small hamlet near Spanish 

 Head and between " Port-le-Murray " and " Port Irons " 

 which must be Cregneash as "composed of edifices so 

 rude, that it is really hard to predicate of the houses at 

 a little distance, whether they are masses of rock or 

 human dwellings." 



