By Professor T. L. Donaldson. 



317 



Were it not for the unusual size of the covering stones, and the 

 reputation it has justly acquired, this ruin might escape notice. 

 When we, however, come to examine its arrangement more 

 narrowly, its form and disposition immediately class it among the 

 most important monuments of its kind. The central figure has the 

 form of the Latin Cross, the whole length being some 22 or 23 feet 

 from out to out; its greatest width 15 feet. Each end of the four 

 arms of the Cross is closed by a larger sized stone from 5 to 7 feet 

 long and 15 to 24 inches thick, the longer arm answering to the 

 nave of a church is 2 feet wide inside and 14 feet long, having now 

 on one side four blocks, and on the other three ; but I am inclined 

 to think one has been displaced, and that there were four on that 

 side also. These stones forming the walls are 14 or 15 in number, 

 and vary from 3 feet long to 4 feet. The shorter arms or transepts 

 are about 5 feet wide, and they are 5 feet deep, thus presenting the 

 appearance of chambers 5 feet square, with the entrances narrowed 

 to 2 or 3 feet. The short arm at the further end is 4 feet 9 inches 

 deep by 2 feet wide, and is formed by a stone on each side and one 

 at the end. 



There were five large blocks to form the roof: one now remains 

 in its place, covering the east transept ; it is of circular form 10 feet 

 by 9 feet on the surface, and 12 inches thick ; it therefore weighs 

 from 5 to 6 tons. The covering block of the other arm or transept 

 is 9 feet long by 5 feet wide : that at the further end 6 feet by 5 

 feet ; the two, which covered the nave, respectively 7 feet 6 inches 

 by 5 feet wide, and 10 feet long by 5 feet wide, and of the same 

 average thickness. 



At the distance of 15 feet from the end of the eastern transept 

 are three stones in their places, corresponding in size with the wall 

 stones of the centre group, and varying from 3 feet 9 inches to 5 

 feet long. They seem to form the arc or portion of a circular out- 

 side ring. Although there are only two or three other stones of 

 this size to be found on the site, I am led to think that these three 

 stones formed a part of an enclosure, and that the rest have been 

 removed by the peasants. The general arrangement, then, of this 

 interesting remain would present a mound about 50 feet in diameter 



