Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/390

 326 DESCRIPTIOX OF A CIIAMBEEED TUMULUS of Europe, in Holland, North Gennaiiy, Ilolstcin, the Danish Islands, and the south of SNveden, are sepulchral monuments, called Giants' Chambers by Worsaae and other northern antiquaries, ^vhich, from personal observation/ we can state are essentially the same Avith the cromlech tombs now referred to. Excepting, however, as regards the size of the chambers themselves, all these differ in important particulars from that rarer class of primeval sepulchral monuments to which we must refer the chambered tumulus of Uley. In these we find a much more elaborate structure, a central coi-ridor with communicating lateral chambers, arranged in pairs with more or less of symmetry, jIore of art, too, is shown in the kind of vaulted roof with which the chamber is often covered in. which exhibits an ap})roacli to the character of the arch, and has indeed received the name of the " horizontal arch." We here trace a decided advance in architectural skill, as compared with the cromlech chambers, with their simple arrangement of upright stones and imposts, however remarkable these may be from their numlter and often gigantic proportions. Chambered tumuli, such as those now under consideration, arc of very rare occurrence in the British Islands. That of 8toney Littleton, near Wellow in Somerset^llire, about five miles south of Bath, is the best preserved example in England.- Of that at Nemnet near Butcombe, also in Somersetshire, little evidence now remains beyond the very imperfect description in the early volumes of the Gentle- man's Magazine.'* The celebrated " Weland's Smithy," near Ashbury in Berkshire, may be a ruined monument of the same kind. There are in Gloucestershire and North Wilt- shire, several long barrows or cairns, mostly in a ruinous c(Miditi(jii, which iiiiglit rc))ay the careful investigation of the aiiti(piary, with a view to their comparison with the more distinct examples now enumerated. ill Inl,iii(| the remarkal)le chambered luiiiiili on the baiik> ol till' Hoync, at New Grange and Uowtli, with others ('roiiiU-cli ilu 'I'liH, ( iiic'riiHcv, :i i^iillcry llu^ (jiaiit'H CliaiiiliT iit aliliaiisni, iiciir with Hiiiall l:it<-i'ul ('li)uiil ci'Mi-lciiii'iiiii of ilio I.ulicck, nixl (lin.si- iil rillcii-c inul l-Iiiii Hrit. Ari-litL'(»l. Ahhiic, viil. i., j). "JO; vol. iv., in Di'iiiii.'irk, iirar the- KucHkiMi' l^'mrd. ji. .'i.'JO ; mill o'lii-r iioiii'OH in llm Hiiims - Sir Jl. ('. I luarc, .r(lnL'ol<)giu, vdI. xi., J'liirnitl, vol. iii.,|)|). IT), '_'(>.'), .'S I'J ; hIho ]t. i'-i. " <)ii Celtic MfgiilitliB," Ate. Arcliiuologitt, •■ (mmiI. Miii;., vol. lix., ixii, niid I.xiii. Vol. ."J."), p. VJ.'i'i, .S«'o uIko IliMtiirii'H of tlu! ('oinily of Sonicr- ' Wi> may allu'ln nion? purliciilnrly lo ml, liy (.'oJliiiMni, Riiiiir, ami I'lirljiH.