Gray— Irish Cromlechs . 229 
should, therefore, certainly be used as in the text — that is, that 
the word ‘Cromlech’ should include stone circles , and ‘Dolmen* 
should be applied to stone chamber si* 
The terms Cromlech and Dolmen may be almost etymological 
equivalents, yet the adoption of the term “ Dolmen" would not 
be sufficiently distinctive for our purpose, because the Conti- 
nental archaeologists include several kinds of monuments under 
that denomination. The term is not of Celtic origin, and it 
does not harmonise with Irish words. Mr. Edward T. Stevens, 
in “ Flint Chips, ”j describes chambered tumuli under the 
name of Dolmens. It will be observed that the authors just 
quoted employ both the terms, “Dolmen” and “ Cromlech,” in 
a generic rather than in a specific sense, and describe a great 
variety of monuments under the respective terms. See also 
“ Essai sur les Dolmens,” by Baron de Bonstetten, of Geneva. 
Dr. Lukis, who has done good service in exploring the ancient 
monuments of the Channel Islands, would include all our crom- 
lechs under the general term “chambered tumuli,” being of 
opinion that all were at one time of their history covered.! 
In the first volume of the “Royal Irish Academy Museum 
Catalogue,” the author, Sir W. Wilde, referring to the chamber 
found in Phoenix Park, says : — “ This discovery went far to 
establish the belief that cromlechs were but uncovered tumuli, 
which originally contained sepulchral remains.” Llewellyn 
Jewett adopts the theory of Dr. Lukis, and says that researches 
“ prove beyond doubt that the cromlechs are neither more nor 
less than sepulchral chambers denuded of their mounds.”§ On 
this point Mr. Ferguson, a well qualified authority, maintains a 
contrary opinion, and in his work on Rude Stone Monuments, 
says “ It seems impossible to believe that the bulk of those we 
now see were ever hidden by an earthen covering.”|| 
* Pre-historic Times. By Sir John Lubbock. Page 104. 
f Flint Chips. A Guide to Pre-historic Archaeology. Page 105. 
+ ^ ev> W. C. Lukis, Norwich. Vol. of Pre- Historic Congress. Capt. Oliver, R.A., 
“ Megalithic Structures of the Channel Islands.” 
§ Grave Mounds and their Contents. Page 51. 
II Rude Stone Monuments in all Countries. By James Ferguson, D.C.L., F.R.S. 
London, 187a. Page 44. 
