Fig. 52.
Fig. 53.
Other excellent examples of Irish cromlechs and chambers are those at Monasterboise (“Calliagh Dirras House”); Drumloghan (full of Oghams); Kells; Knockeen (figs. [47] and [48]); where the right supporting stones are six in number, and arranged rectangularly, so as to form a distinct chamber at the S.E. end, the large covering stone being 12 feet by 8 feet, and weighing about four tons, and the smaller one about half that size; Gaulstown (figs. [49] and [50]), the inner chamber of which measures 7 feet by 6 feet 4 inches, and is seven feet in height; Ballynageerah (figs. [51], [52], and [53]), the capstone of which is cleverly and curiously poised on two only of the upright stones, as will be seen by the engravings;[20] Howth, Shandanagh, Brennanstown, Glencullen, Kilternan, Mount Brown, Rathkenny, Mount Venus, and Knock Mary, Phœnix Park, as well as at many other places.
Fig. 54.
In the Channel Islands the indefatigable and laudable researches of Mr. Lukis show that the galleried stone chambers of the tumuli in that district had been used by successive generations for many ages. One of the most important of these is the gigantic chambered burial place, surrounded by a stone circle, at L’Ancresse, in Guernsey. In this, “five large capstones are seen rising above the sandy embankment which surrounds the place; these rest on the props beneath, and the whole catacomb is surrounded by a circle of upright stones of different dimensions.” The length of the cromlech is 41 feet from west to east, and about 17 feet from north to south, on the exterior of the stones. At the eastern entrance the remains of a smaller chamber is still seen; it consisted of three or four capstones, and was about seven feet in length, but evidently within the outer circle of stones.[21] In a careful examination made by Mr. Lukis, many highly interesting features were brought to light, of which he has given an excellent account in the “Archæological Journal,”[22] to which the reader cannot do better than refer. The engravings there given, show the interiors of some of the chambers, with their deposits in situ, and exhibit some of the highly interesting relics found during the excavations. The pottery was of a totally distinct character from that of the Celtic period found in England, some of the forms being of what are usually considered the Anglo-Saxon type, and are the result of the use of these chambers by successive generations, as already named.
Fig. 55.
Another of the more remarkable structures of the Channel Islands is that of Gavr Innis, in the Morbihan, Brittany. The tumulus is about thirty feet high, and its circumference at the base about 300 feet. The cromlech is entered from the south end ([fig. 55]), [fig. 56] being the opening on the north, and consists of 14 upright stones on the east side, 13 on the west, and 2 on the north, supporting, in all, 10 capstones. In general features it bears a strong resemblance to those at New Grange, Dowth, and other places. The remarkable feature of this chambered tumulus is that the stones composing the passage are for the most part sculptured in lines and patterns, which have been described as very similar to the patterns tattooed on their faces and bodies by the New Zealanders. Examples of these will be seen on the accompanying engravings, which exhibit some of the more marked and distinct of the patterns noticed and copied by Mr. Lukis, in his examination of this mound, and described by him in the journal of the British Archæological Association, to the Council of which I am indebted for these illustrations.