541 
fencing around graves, and fulfil the same purpose as those 
which surround, in many cases, the base of barrows ; and 
the large circles only differ in size, which does not imply any 
difference in purpose. On the other hand it may be said 
that the circles, like Avebury, having avenues or lines of 
stones in connection with them, are distinct from the ordinary 
small circles, which do not possess that peculiarity. And 
the fact that barrows are found in large numbers in their 
vicinity, may be said to be a strong argument in favour of 
their religious use for worship, for naturally around such a 
site the burial-places would gather, just as in Christian times 
they did round the church. There are, however, in York- 
shire, some circular erections which present all the features 
of places of assembly, either religious or political, — no doubt 
in those days scarcely to be separated. Such are the three 
remarkable circles at Thornbrough, near Tanfield, which 
consist of a mound of earth, within which is a platform, 
bounded by a ditch enclosing the area in the centre ; through 
this mound and ditch are two wide entrances, opposite each 
other. Some of these features are such as would be found in 
a fortified place, as, for instance, the mound and ditch ; but 
this has clearly not been their object in this case, and the 
broad platform and wide double entrance are both inconsis- 
tent with any plan for defence. Close by the circles are a 
number of barrows, which may be said to be in favour of 
their supposed religious use. 
Standing stones occur in several places ; sometimes in a 
group, as the Devil's Arrows, near Boroughbridge, sometimes 
singly, as the very large one in the churchyard at Rudston, 
in the East- Riding. "What the purpose of these and similar 
stones has been, is not certainly known. I believe, but I 
have no very authentic account of such a discovery, that 
they have been found to stand upon a place of burial ; and I 
think it likely that they do mark graves, and are monuments 
