154 Danish Cromlechs and Burial Customs, fyc. 



clay vessels. For a like reason, no doubt, the larger cromlechs of 

 the Morbihan were similarly furnished with covered ways. Near 

 Hennebont, however, there is one without, which gives occasion 

 for the remark from Dr. Fouquet : " Les Dolmens sans allee sont 

 assez rares, et doivent appeler la reflexion." The covered way 

 leading to the chamber of the Tumiac is remarkably short for so 

 gigantic a tumulus. 1 



Before passing on to the subject of Burial Customs, there is one 

 other point which should be noticed, viz., the orientation of 

 cromlechs. Mr. Worsaae remarks : " no general rule can be stated 

 as to the direction in which they lie. They are most frequently 

 met with from east to west ; they also lie from south to north, and 

 from north-east to south-west. The aborigines do not seem to 

 have confined themselves to any precise rule in the erection of such 

 monuments," (pp. 78 — 79.) 



I am inclined to think that the aborigines had a rule, although 

 for some reason they thought fit to depart from it occasionally. 

 Mr. Worsaae allows above that cromlechs "are most frequently met 

 with from east to west." The same may be observed in Gaul, 

 in the Channel Islands, and in Britain. By far the greater 

 number are east and west, or vary to the north and south of east. 

 Yery few are north and south. I cannot believe that this orien- 

 tation is the result of accident. It must have been intentional, and 

 perhaps may have had some connection with the worship of the Sun. 

 This theory would account for the variation from due east and 

 west, just as in the case of churches, according to the time of year 

 at which the erection was commenced. 



Another circumstance worthy of being noted is that most of the 

 more important stone chambers are in long barrows. In Brittany, 

 the tumulus of Hel£u (east and west, 300 feet long by 100 feet 

 wide, and 30 feet high, with a stone chamber at the east end) near 

 Locmariaquer ; the Butte de Cesar (400 feet long, 100 feet wide, 

 and 30 feet high, south-east and north-west,) and Gavr'inis are 



1 This chamber resembles in some particulars the constructions of Stoney- 

 Littleton, Uley, &c It is situated on the east side of the tumulus, and has 

 its opening east by south. 



