By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



161 



have composed a bracelet. Two groups of celts, or Druidicai 

 knives, fifteen in each group, were also discovered here ; some 

 highly polished and of great beauty, though the greater part were 



; broken in two pieces. But to crown all, several fragments of bone 



! were also found, which, though almost pulverized and in a very 

 decomposed state, were identified by scientific anatomists to whom 

 they were submitted, as undoubtedly human : indeed there were 

 sufficient portions to indicate pretty clearly that the corpse was 

 laid on a wooden plank at the end of the chamber along the North 

 wall, the head to the East, and the feet towards the West. The 

 accident which led to the discovery of this chamber was as singular 

 as it was happy, for with nothing to guide them, the directors of 

 the excavations pushed their tunnel right up to the very entrance 

 of the chamber, whereas had they gone one point more to the East 

 or West, they would have missed the only entrance to it, if not 



, the cromlech itself. The above particulars I have taken from the 

 Report, drawn up by M. Fouquet, the Secretary of the Societe 

 Polymathique, and addressed to the Prefet of the district : 1 and I 

 have the greatest satisfaction in bringing forward this instance, 



I both because my friend, the Rev. W. C. Lukis, chanced to be 



i present soon after the discovery of the sepulchral chamber, and was 

 an eye- witness of the particulars 1 have given above : and also 

 because the fact of the sepulchre being at the side, speaks volumes 

 to my mind with regard to Silbury, accounts for the failure of 

 former investigators, whose whole energies were directed towards 

 the centre, and suggests that it is no cenotaph, but still contains 



; one or more tombs, to reward the perseverance of future excavators. 



; From Britany I pass through North Germany, remarking on 

 the numerous barrows of various form and height which abound 

 there, and are denominated " Kegelgraber," conical graves, 2 whose 

 sepulchral object has never been called in question ; but which, as 

 they do not rival Silbury in bulk, I will not adduce in support of 



1 Rapport sur la decouverte d'une Grotte Sepulcrale dans la butte de Tumiac 

 le 21 Juillet 1853, adresse a Monsieur le Preftt du Morbihan, au nom de la 

 Societe Polymathique par le Secretaire de cette Societe le l er Aout 1853. 



2 Archaeological Journal, xii., 387. 



VOL. VII. — NO. XX. 



Q 



