MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 119 



that no harm might befall him from the opening of a 

 tumulus upon his land." 



The Historic Period is represented by structural and 

 monumental remains, dating from the introduction of 

 Christianity to the earlier Celtic inhabitants in the sixth 

 or end of the fifth century. Among these remains are a 

 number of inscribed stones and incised and carved Cross- 

 slabs (see figs. 24 to 42) ; and the ruins and foundations 

 of early Keeils, Cells, or Churches. 



Dr. Oliver, in the Manks Society, Vol. XT. (1868), 

 describing the ancient churches in Man, states that " In 

 their materials and construction they correspond with 

 the account given in the Booh of Armagh of similar 

 places of worship in Ireland of the age of St. Patrick. 

 When the Apostle visited Tirawley (he quotes) he built 

 there a quadrangular Church of moist earth, because 

 there was no wood near." Here, he adds, " we have an 

 exact description of the Manx cabbal. . . . The 

 cabbal and keeil are invariably quadrangular, the lights 

 oblong or quadrilateral openings, splaying inwards, and the 

 stonework of the doors and windows unchiselled." Since 

 his time many buildings and ruins have been utterly 

 demolished, and we are unaware of any instance answering 

 to his description of " the Cabbal of the Fifth Century," of 

 which he gives a figure, but does not say what it is taken 

 from. He then goes on to describe the keeils, which he 

 supposes to have been " introduced about the middle of the 

 sixth," of which lie gives St. Lingan's, Marown, *as an 

 instance ; the " Treen " Churches, " introduced towards the 

 close of the eighth." instancing Ballakilley, Malew : and 

 " Mortuary Chapels," such as St. Luke's, on the western 

 slope of Cronk-ny-Irree-Laa, Rushen. "We are unable to 

 follow his classification, or to agree (from what little can 



