NEOLITHIC STONE CIRCLE AT PORT ERIN. 165 



same plan, viz., two large cists placed end to end running 

 along the circumference of the circle, and one rather longer 

 narrower one directed radially outwards from the place 

 of junction of the two former. The arrangement then is a 

 triradiate one ; we shall call the end of each cist which is 

 nearest the common centre of the tritaph " proximal," the 

 remoter end " distal." The tangential cists are composed 

 each at the distal end of an outer end stone about 3 feet 

 wide, of two side stones or monoliths placed on edge and 

 measuring up to 8 feet in length, and of a " gateway " at 

 the proximal end. This gateway consists of a pair of up- 

 right pillar stones one at each side, measuring 18 to 24 

 inches across, and standing within and partly overlapped 

 by the large side stones, and so forming a distinct entrance 

 to the cist. Sometimes at the base of the pillar stones 

 and stretching between them is a flat slab or step, and 

 sometimes traces of a low wall built of smaller stones. 

 In no case is there a single large end stone at this 

 extremity as there is distally. 



Between the proximal ends of these tangential cists and 

 running out at right angles to them is the third or radial 

 cist of the tritaph. It is formed of two pairs of small side 

 stones each 1 to 2 ft. across, and in all cases is open at its 

 distal end where in some cases there are a few steps, 

 formed of rough slabs, leading down from the surface of the 

 ground to the floor. No gateway is present in the radial 

 cists, which thus differ constantly in several points of 

 structure — of sides, and of both ends — from the tangential 

 cists. The average size of the tangential cist is 5 ft. 9 

 inches by 2 ft. 8 inches, and of the radial cists 7 ft. by 2 ft. 

 3 inches. The floor, at a depth of 18 to 24 inches below 

 the surface, showed in all cases indications of a pave- 

 ment of flat stones, on the average about 1 ft. across 

 and 1 to 2 inches thick. All these stones from the large 



