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Incised Marking on the Impost 



on the rocks near the British earthworks, on the Cheviots. " After 

 long examination, I was delighted," says Dr. Tate, " to catch a 

 glimpse of some symbol or character on the under surface of the 

 fallen 1 impost of one of the great triliths of the inner circle. The 

 inscription is on the under surface of the impost, and occupies a 

 position midway between the mortices. It is about 9 inches in 

 length, and is (sharply) incised, but being encrusted with lichens 

 and weather-worn, it must be viewed in a particular light to trace 

 its form ; which, however, under favourable circumstances is distinct 

 enough, to an eye accustomed to read water- worn sculpturings. Its 

 form is here shown (see woodcut) . About 3 inches from it is a hollow 



f of an inch in diameter, similar to those which are seen associated 

 with the remarkable markings on rocks in Northumberland. I be- 

 lieve this incised character to be archaic, probably coeval with the 

 erection of the Stonehenge circle ; it has the same weather-worn ap- 

 pearance as the Northumberland sculpturings, which doubtless 

 were the work of ancient British people. Beyond generally ex- 

 pressing an opinion as to the antiquity of the curious mark or 

 symbol, now first noticed at Stonehenge, I do not attempt to specu- 

 late on its origin or meaning." 



On hearing of this discovery, and being furnished through the 

 kindness of Mr. Albert Way, with a copy of Dr. Tate's sketch, I 



Fig-. 3.— Incised Marking on the Impost of the Great Trilithon at Stonehenge. 

 From a sketch by Dr. Tate, January, 1861. 



