ArjJistrong : Tivo Ancient Burial Caiinis. 91 



face of the two stones forming the bottom was level with the 

 natural ground surface adjoining, so far as could be ascertained, 

 and these had apparently been laid down for the reception of 

 the deposited remains. 



As there was every reason to believe that some portion of 

 the ashes might have been placed in an urn, efforts were made 

 to raise the stones above mentioned in hopes of a discovery. 

 This was by no means easy, but by care and perseverence, it 

 was at last accomplished, but only to meet with disappoint- 

 ment. Immediately beneath was a slight layer of ashes upon 

 the natural ground surface, which latter showed very evident 

 signs of fire, the bright yellow^ sand composing the substratum 

 being calcined to a dark red colour for quite 2" in depth. This 

 sand was very stiff and compact. The most diligent search 

 failed to reveal any trace of a hole or other disturbance at any 

 point, or of any implements which might have accompanied 

 the body, either upon the surface or amidst the cairn. 



One stone found amidst those immediately covering the 

 deposit, was remarkable because entirely different from all 

 the remainder composing the cairn, and appeared to have been 

 shaped with some definite object in view. It was a fragment 

 of hard sandstone, in the form of a truncated pyramid, the sides 

 and top being roughly fractured to shape, but the base was 

 quite smooth, and bore marks of friction. The base measured 

 6'''x5'', and the height about 4 J'". This might have been used 

 as a crushing and grinding stone for grain, or for rubbing pur- 

 poses, but careful search failed to reveal its companion slab. 

 With this exception, nothing was found that could be considered 

 as having been fashioned for use, and there was nothing to 

 throw any light upon the probable period of the cairn's erection. 



The second tumulus examined is situated about 100 yards 

 south-west of the first. It was of rather irregular shape, and 

 appeared to have been somewhat disturbed, but the original 

 diameter had probably been about 9' . Upon examination, 

 it also proved to be of the cairn type, and apparently similar 

 to that previously opened, but it had been disturbed throughout 

 at some distant period, and no trace of the deposit could be 

 found, although the yellow sand forming the subtratum was 

 noticeable, calcined over the whole area as before. There were 

 also traces of charcoal. It is remarkable that amidst the smaller 

 stones of this cairn another ' rubbing stone ' was found, almost 

 identical with that in the former one, and similarly, this proved 



1909 March i. 



