THE ANTKiUlTIES OF ALDKRNKY. 



BY MR. G. T. DERRICK. 



The publication in our last Transactions of the correspondence 

 which led the Admiralty authorities to make a gift to this 

 Society of the most interesting and highly important collection 

 of antiquarian objects discovered in Alderney in 1U05, by 

 workmen in their employ, has excited a new interest in 

 Alderney antiquities. Information already published on this 

 subject is scattered in articles and chapters of different 

 publications, so that it is difficult for the student to consult 

 the authorities. To facilitate this research, I have included 

 in this paper a list of these articles and a precis of their 

 contents. 



The great authority on this subject, and practically the 

 only one up to 1889, was Mr. F. C. Lukis, of (xuernsey, whose 

 careful and systematic explorations earned for him a most 

 honourable position among the earlier students of the anti- 

 quities of this part of the world. 



In 1830 the States of Alderney obtained an Order 

 in Council giving them permission to enclose considerable 

 tracts of land hitherto uncultivated ; among these was Longy 

 Common. The land was divided and apportioned by lot 

 among the inhabitants. The new proprietors set to work 

 to clear the ground, and in so doing discovered remains of 

 an ancient civilization buried beneath the soil. Induced by 

 these discoveries Mr. Lukis visited Alderney, and published 

 the results of his investigations in the Journal of the 

 Archieological Association (Vol. III. of the Pro(;eedings) in 

 the year 1848. 



In this article Mr. Lukis first discusses the name by 

 which this island was known to the ancients, and the origin of 

 the present name. After a few Avords about Burhou, a rocky 

 islet only separated from Alderney by a narrow passage called 

 the Swinge, he gives his idea of the first settlement or 

 original town. He then passes on to the Ancient Stone 

 Monuments, and enumerates : 



