Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/261

 FROM THE ROMAN WALL NORTHWARD INTO SCOTLAND. 225 and commands a view of several slacks and defiles. About a quarter of a mile on the west side is the hamlet called the Flatt, where Sir James Graham has a shooting lodge. (1200 yards.) At 5030 yards the Maiden Way crosses the limpid waters of a lovel}'^ stream called the White L^^ne ^ or Leven, making a small divergence to the east ; a heap of stones at this spot deserves notice, being apparently the remains of a strong abutment of a bridge. About a quarter of a mile further down the river is a small green hill on the south bank, near the foot-bridge, called the Kilnpot Knowe, which has the appearance of having been a cairn or barrow, •with a slight trace of foundations on its summit. On the north bank of the Lyne, and on the east side of the Maiden Way is a curious place called the Shiel Knowe. It has probably been so called from two shiels which have once stood near it, and are now in ruins. These shiels were generally a sort of temporary huts or hovels, erected most commonl}^ during the border wars, often built of sods or turfs, and sometimes of stones, on commons, for the shelter of the shepherds. In Scotland they are often called Beelds ; and in some parts of Cumberland they are termed Skells, scales, or skales, from the Saxon or perhaps Gothic word "Skalga," a shell, husk, or cover. *^ The Shiel Knowe appears to have been a very extensive cairn, rising to a considerable height in the centre, and having three ridges or barrows running from it at smaller elevations, and diverging tow^ards different points. The centre cairn is 22 3^ards on the slope on the north-west side, and the ridges or barrows about one-half of that height. The ridge or barrow running to the south-west is about 100 yards long ; the ridge to the south-east is about 140 ^^ards long ; and the ridge to the north about 380 yards long. They are now covered w^ith the green turf and heather, but stones show themselves in abundance. On the summit of the centre cairn there appears to have been a small building, about four yards long, and three 3'ards broad. It may have been a watch-tower, or possibly it marks the site of the altar on which sacrifice may have been offered. This place may have been the burial-ground of a lai'ge tribe located in this district, torrent. Isl. lind, a cascade. Compare SeylJ, a defence, a shealing. Gaelic and Irish, Linti; Welsh, llyn, alake.
 * Lyne, possibly from Sax, Hlynna, a ^ Or from Sceald, a cover, shell, &c.