Page:VCH Derbyshire 1.djvu/239

 EARLY MAN it was ot stones and earth ' raised over four smaller mounds, each con- sisting of indurated clay intermixed with wood and charcoal.' The only interment he met with was one ot cremated remains in a large cist near the summit, and with them was a small food vase. It is curious that there also is a great mound associated with the circle of Dove Holes. In this case it is about i oo ft. to the south-west of the circle, but unlike Gib Hill, it is square, the sides being each about 75 ft. and the height about 8 ft. The other circles of the county are smaller and slighter. The largest of these is one on Wet-withens Moor near Eyam, consisting of a slight annular bank with sixteen stones standing on its inner edge, nearly i oo ft. in diameter. There was formerly a large stone in the centre. On Offerton Moor near by, is a similar bank only shorn of its stones, and somewhat oval in plan, about 85 ft. in its longer diameter. Reference has already been made to others which formerly existed on this and Abney Moor. A small and well known circle of nine stones, ' The Nine Ladies,' on Stanton Moor, is about 33 ft. in diameter. A woodcut of this circle in Bateman's Vestiges l shows it with an annular bank and a small central mound, a combination which recalls that on Abney Moor, referred to on page 160. Ringed barrows of this type have been noted on Eyam Moor. 2 Another woodcut of a circle on Stanton Moor, in the same book, presents an annular bank without stones or central mound. Mr. Bateman made some excavations in the central area of another on this moor, and found just below the surface several cinerary urns with their deposits of burnt bones and as many incense cups. 3 On Hartle Moor adjoining are about six upright stones of large size, all that remain of a circle of about 39 ft. in diameter, which fifty years ago had some traces of a central mound. 4 There was formerly a circle of similar diameter, and another 22 ft., on Brassington Moor. On Froggatt Edge, and on East Moor near the Bar Brook, are, or were, two circles, one about 36 ft. and the other 40 ft. in diameter ; also others on Hathersage Moor and Hordron Edge. Mr. W. J. Andrew has recently discovered three more (circles), namely, one on Froggatt Edge ; another near Park Gate, Beeley Moor, above Chatsworth ; and another near Ramsley Lodge, on East Moor. 6 All three are untouched, in good preservation, and of the same character. They are from 30 to 33 ft. in diameter, with (originally) upright stones standing on a small vallum with two openings, not immediately opposite each other. The stones vary from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in height, and are placed at nearly regular inter- vals of about 6 ft. Many are still standing upright, and all have evidently been carefully selected for uniformity in shape though not in length. Doubtless remains of other circles would be found in the Peak if diligently searched for. It should be noticed that with several are associated one or more large standing stones. About 100 ft. from the 1 p. 112. 3 Several plans are given in Diggings, p. 248. 3 Ibid. p. 84. B This circle however may be that referred to above as near the Bar Brook.
 * This circle is figured in one of the plates of Moore's Picturesque Excursions, 1 8 1 8.