Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/539

Rh "During the remainder of the week several other circles were opened, in most of which were found small fragments of coarse pottery, bones of various animals, some of which appeared to have been burnt, pieces of blackened wood, but no masonry, or any relics of interest. The deposits in all were nearly the same;—first, earth washed from the surface, then rubble and pieces of rock to the depth of about 5 feet; beneath this, black earth with fragments of wood, then broken stones, and lastly, the solid rock. On Saturday was found the skull of a pig, the back part of which, being close to the rock, seemed to show that it must have been separated from the carcase before it was placed in the hole; with it were many fragments of coarse pottery, some blackened wood, and a small piece of spar, which appears to have been rubbed down at one end, and might, perhaps, have been used as the head of a very small arrow. In the early part of the week the area contained within a large circle, 50 feet in diameter, which occupies nearly the centre of the place, was searched, but no cavities or deposits were discovered, the solid rock being found a few inches below the surface. Near the centre of this circle were found many fragments of pottery, thinner and of rather a finer texture than that found elsewhere.

"On Monday, October 27th, we found some more fragments of coarse pottery, bones of various animals, and a piece of spar, similar to that before-mentioned. On Tuesday, at about 5 feet from the surface, we found the jaw of a pig and a few bones; and a little below these lay a human under jaw, the atlas vertebra, the bones of one arm and hand, and those of the right foot in a very perfect state. This hole was much wider than most of the others, and those bones only were preserved, which had fallen on the dryest spots. Enough, however, remained to show that the skeleton was lying on its face, and about 8 or 9 inches below the jaw lay an iron spike, about 4 inches long, which appears to have been the head of a dart or javelin with which the man might have been killed, and have fallen forward into the excavation. Under the skeleton was the usual deposit of black mould and pieces of stick, such as might have been used in the construction of a wattled roof: under this was a large quantity of wheat and barley, which seemed to have rested upon a flat board, the different kinds of grain having been kept separate from each other by thin pieces of wood placed between them. Among this grain was found what I at first supposed to be a piece of plaited straw, but on closer inspection, it appeared to be part of a sedge mat, or basket, in which the corn might have been kept. The investigation of this curious store was not completed till Thursday; on that day another excavation was opened, in one corner of which was a ledge of rock which might have served as a seat. On the left side of this were the fragments of a large earthen vessel, and on the right a small store of grain. Near the bottom of the hole was found part of a very small ring, apparently of bronze; and in the corner quite on the floor, seemingly put away with care, two rings of iron about an inch in thickness, and about the same in diameter. On Friday nothing was discovered, and on Saturday, in the last cavity which has been searched, we found many bones of animals, a considerable quantity of broken pottery, and just above the floor a piece of iron about 8 inches in length. This, though quite rusted through, appears to be the head of a large spear. Besides these remains, we have found a great number of pebbles, all nearly of the same size, which, as the hill is 300 feet above the sea,