Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/375

Rh persons in quest of treasure, on the report of the discovery being spread, it may be doubtful whether these dispersed remains should be assigned to the first or second place of interment above described.

Many stones of considerable size, measuring as much as 3 feet square, it should be observed, lay in the sand around: they had, possibly, formed a cairn, or a rude kistvaen, which had become denuded of soil, so that the stone covering the urn was nearly exposed. There was also a larger slab, which might have formed an upright stone, or maenhir. The mound was covered with green sward, previously to the excavation. In former ages, the sea had, probably, reached only to within 100 yards or upwards of this tumulus; but there had been a gradual encroachment, and the waves now wash the foot of the mound.

The Bay of Porth Dafarch, situated on the southern shore of Holyhead Island, about two miles S.E. of the South Stack, affords the best landing-place on that part of the coast. Shortly before the establishment of steamers—facilities being desirable for landing passengers and mails, when the packets from Dublin were occasionally wind-bound during easterly gales, and unable to round the South Stack—this bay was considered the most eligible position for the object required. Considerable expense was consequently incurred by Government in forming a road leading from Porth Dafarch to Holyhead, a distance of about two miles. The following year, however, the advantages of steam navigation were rendered available on this important station, and the landing-place, with the road of communication, became useless. A trap-dike, of considerable geological interest, runs across the bay, and may be traced near the coast, cropping out of the sand, which, being mixed with a detritus of sea-shells, forms a valuable manure, and is carted away in quantities. The general appearance of the spot, and position of tumulus, are seen in the view which accompanies this memoir. (See p. 226.)

It is much to be regretted that no precise statement of this discovery can now be obtained; the particulars above given have been collected by careful inquiries from the tenant. In the neighbourhood of the spot, further inland, there are several green mounds, which have some appearance of being sepulchral, but the sand has drifted much, and formed round heaps over projections of the rock.

The supposition which the appearance of the two urns (first