of the Great Trilithon, at Stonehenge. 273 



felt much interest in the matter, which seemed to be one of consider- 

 able importance. Here, on the under surface of the impost of the 

 great central trilith, on the centre of what may be regarded as the 

 key-stone of the whole structure, was a mark, which according to the 

 sketch of it, looked very much like a sort of astronomical symbol, 

 or if not that, seemed not unlike some of the ancient masons' 

 marks. It was clearly an object to establish the accuracy of Dr. 

 Tate's description and drawing, to look for marks in other parts of 

 the structure, and to obtain as much information on the subject as 

 possible. I was therefore glad of the opportunity which an at- 

 tendance at the Salisbury Sessions in April 1862, gave me, of 

 visiting Stonehenge by the way. On examination, I found that 

 the markings did not exactly correspond with Dr. Tate's drawing ; 

 in which the peculiar sickle- shaped device was combined with 

 what I at once saw were two Roman capital letters into a single 

 figure. The letters, however, were found to be quite separate from 

 the other part of the mark. The Roman V was very distinct, and 

 the L only somewhat less so. The device and characters were 

 comparatively sharply cut, and well covered with time-stains 



Fig. 4.— Incised Marking on the Impost of the Great Trilithon at Stonehenge. 

 From a rubbing by Dr. Thurnam, July, 1862. 

 (One fifth the actual size.) 



and lichens. There were no markings of any kind in the 



