MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT TORT ERIN. 85 



tinned in a curve westward and southward. Two large pieces 

 of oak lay horizontally about 2ft. 6in. below the surface : 

 one, which crossed close by the W.S.W. end of the canoe, 

 lay diagonally with it about S.E. to N.W., and measured 

 8jlt. by lOin. diameter at its widest. The other, almost 

 at right angles to this, its S.W. end about 4ft. off, passed 

 diagonally beneath the smaller cist. Thirteen piles of 

 oak were disclosed, the broken tops of which were about 

 level with the bottom of the canoe. The largest measured 

 3ft. in length, of which about 18in. was formed into a 

 point, very clean and smooth to have been done by an 

 axe of stone ; its diameter was lOin. 



This was about 50 feet from the edge of the brooghs, 

 and about 200 feet above sea-level. Inland, to the S.W., 

 further traces of burning have been found, and more oak 

 piles, while throughout the field great numbers of flint 

 flakes and cores have been picked up.* 



The transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze stage 

 of culture must have been gradual in the Isle of Man. 

 That the earlier people were not exterminated by these 

 first Aryan invaders is evident from the fact that the small 

 Iberian type may still be recognised in the Manks folk of 

 to-day ; as also may the taller round-headed type of the 

 Bronze Age man. 



Evidences of the transitional stage are to be seen in 

 some sepulchral monuments of intermediate type, such 

 as " King Orry's Grave," Laxey ; a cairn at Ballagorry, 

 Dhoon, Maughold ; a passage grave at Kew, German : 

 perhaps the circle on the Braid, near Sliean Chiarn, 

 Marown ; and one or two more. One of the most curious 

 and interesting of these is the circle of cists on the Meayll 

 Hill, above Port Erin, and as we made a careful examina- 



*Yn Iioar Manninagh, I., 36; part 2, 78. 



