131 



slab has, or originally had, some inclination (lengthways) in it ; the sup- 

 porters are rude blocks of stone, set on end, apart, seldom found forming 

 a continuous closed surface, either at the sides or end>* 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVL 



Eig. 1. — Small African sepulchral urn — one-third of size of object, found 

 beneath a cromlech at Bainen, near Algiers, — of the rudest form, 

 fabric, and material, and without any ornamentation ; referred to in 

 preceding notice of cromlechs in IN'orthern Africa. 



Fig. 2. — Small Celtic sepulchral urn, one-third of size of object, found in 

 a cemetery Gaulois, at Molineaux, near Rouen (described by the Abbe 

 Cochet, at page 11 of the ''Sepultures Gaaloises et E'ormandes," 

 8vo., Par. 1857), of same size and quality as the one found under 

 the cromlech at Algiers, and likewise without ornamentation. 



Eig. 3. — Large Irish sepulchral urn, one-fourth the size of object, with a 

 quantity of bones, all broken into small fragments, partially calciued, 

 found on the Altmore property of Edward Litton, Esq., Master in 

 Chancery, on the summit of the Cappagh mountain, parish of Pome- 

 roy, county of Tyrone, beneath a cairn, at an elevation above the sea 

 of 946 feet, in a square, stone-built chamber, closed externally by a 

 huge block of stone ; within which chamber the above-mentioned urn, 

 some ashes, burnt bones, and charcoal, were discovered ; but no wea- 

 pons or ornaments of any kind. This urn — unquestionably of the 

 most remote antiquity — was presented by Master Litton to E. E. 

 Madden. 



* Since the preceding notice of certain cromlechs in the vicinity of Algiers was 

 read before the Royal Irish Academy, on the 14th of April, 1862, my attention was 

 called to an elaborate article on "British Remains at Dartmoor," by Sir J. Gardiner 

 Wilkinson, published in the " Journal of the British Archaeological Association" of 

 March 31, 1862, In that-article Sir J. G. Wilkinson refers cursorily to the cromlechs in 

 the vicinity of Algiers, recently visited by me, and described in my paper on those mo- 

 numents, read before the Royal Irish Academy, Sir J. G. Wilkinson's reference to them 

 is contained in the following passage : — 



"And about twelve miles from Algiers, on the plateau of Bainam, is a great assem- 

 blage of cromlechs." 



In several other parts of Africa, monuments of an analogous character are referred to 

 by Sir J. G. Wilkinson as having been " described by Mr. Rhind, in his interesting Memoir 

 on Ortholitic Remains in Africa" (" Archseologia," vol. xxxix.) — a work, I may observe, 

 at the date of this note (June 10, 1862), not yet received in Ireland, " Mr. Rhind," 

 observes Sir J. G. Wilkinson, " has enumerated the following: — A stone circle near Tan- 

 giers, and other rude megaliths in Morocco ; and in Algeria, near Zebdon, to the south 

 of Tlemecen, a cromlech at Tiaret, 100 miles from the sea, the capstone of which mea- 

 sures 65 feet by 26 feet, and 9^ feet in thickness, raised 40 feet from the ground, with 

 steps cut to ascend it, and three basins or square troughs cut upon its upper surface, the 

 largest 3 feet on each side, and communicating with each other by channels 4 inches 

 broad, and of less depth than the basins. Some long stones are in the neighbourhood 

 still standing; and about twelve miles from Algiers, on the plateau of Bainam, is a great 

 assemblage of cromlechs ; and near Djelfa several tombs, composed of four slabs, covered 

 by one or two others, each surrounded by a single or double circle of rude stone, about 

 nine inches long, in which district a stone celt has been found ; at Sigus, near to Con- 



