III. NOTICE OF RUINS OF ANCIENT DWELLINGS AT 8KARA, BAY OF SKA1LL, IN THE PARISH OF SANDWICH, ORKNEY, RECENTLY EXCAVATED. BY GEOKGE PETK1K, Esq., COBB. MEM. S.A. SCOT. (PLATES XXXIX. tO XLII.) Among those numerous remains of primitive dwellings of the early inhabitant Orkneyse th f o s , which have been mor . lesor es examineda , f Skaille o parisgrea th y f n ba o i th, mas e e shorf th ruinth o s f n o eo s Sandwick, and mainland of Orkney, occupies a prominent place, and deserves particular notice. About fiftee r sixteeo n n years ago drift-sande th , , whic accumud hha - lated to a great height at a place called Skara, on the south side of the bay above named undermines ,wa swepd dan t e wilawath dy ywaveb f so the Atlantic, and an immense " Kitchen Midden," apparently of great antiquity, was exposed to view. It was at some points 15 or 16 feet high, and consisted chiefly of ashes thickly studded with bones, shells, pieces of horns of the ox and deer, and fragments of charred wood. The dis- cover communicates ywa dmo t e r "Willia"byM m Watt, Skaill showeo wh , d me various bone and stone implements which he had picked out of the mound informed.md an , existence th ruine f eo th building f f so eo e th t sa 2 20 PROCEEDING SOOIKTYE TH F O S , APKJL 1867.

same place I sen. noticWatt'r a t M f eo s discover r DanieD o yt l Wilson, who refers to it at page 143 of the first edition of his " Pre-historic Annals of Scotland," and gives drawings of some of the bone relics. It is also allude Captaiy b o dt n Thomas, s E.JST." hi Celti n i , c Antiquitie f Orko s - ney," published in the " Archteologia," vol. xxx. One of the bone pins was sent by me to the Museum of Antiquaries in Edinburgh in 1851. Mr Watt afterwards, from time to time, collected a variety of stone and bone relics from the mound, and ascertained that a great mass of ruins lay buried there. He also came upon a stone kist or box containing about two dozen large oyster shells l perforateal , e middlth n i de wit holha e abou incn a t diametern hi . In 1861 Mr Farrer made a partial examination of the mound, and opened some chambers and passages. In a letter to one of the local news- papers he stated, that all the chambers and passages "were filled with sand and stones fallen from the roof, together with vast quantities of shell boned s an varioun i s s stage decayf chambere so Th . s wer mosn ei t instances flagge bottome th t da . No human bones were found stona t ebu , vessel (probably a lamp), a few pieces of bones pointed and o\ii, a piece of hard heavan d y metal, suppose e manganeseb o t d , together witn a h immense quantit ashef yo alternatn si e layer sanf ash.so d dan " Mr Watt afterwards resumed the exploring of the mound, and by dint of great perseveranc d labouran e s succeedeha , n clearini d larga t egou portion of the ruins, although evidently much yet remains to be done. During the progress of the work he has collected a vast hoard of primi- tive relics, some of them unique, all of them more or less rude, and all deeply interestin bearins ga sociae th n lgo habite earlth yf s o inhabitant s of the Orkneys. I have repeatedly visited Skara during Mr Watt's explorations, and noted the peculiarities of structure, taking care on each occasion to measure an theds a pla r ye ruin fa wern th s a s e opened I afterward. s found the advantag f thiso e , when several portion buildine th f o s g tumbled down, after having been exposed for a short time to the weather. These have been since restore t previouslno MI y db rd Wattha y t plannebu , d them, I coul accucart testifd e o havt th , no an de -eo yt am bee w n no able I s a , racy with which, as far as was practicable, the restorations have been made plany M s. sho structure wth t originalli s ea y stood -when discovered NOTICE OF KUIT\TS OF ANCIENT DWELLINGS. 203

Wattr M thereford y an ,b comparisoea ruine th appearthes f sw a no yno , with the plans, will at once prove how closely the original has been copied. ruine Th t Skarsa a are altogethe differeno rs typn i t e frohitherty man o discovered e relicth d s an whic, h have already been varie o s foun e dar d and numerous, althoug f bono stoner l o ehal , tha I thought t wouli t e db very desirable to have the results of Mr Watt's enthusiastic labour up to this time made knowe Societth o nt f Scottis yo h Antiquaries, without waiting wholtile th l e moun explorede dh thio T s. arrangemen Watr M t t kindls ha y consented d besidean , s givin e fulm gl informatioe th o t s a n successive discoveries made by him during the' excavations, has also per- mitte mako t e dem drawing s possessiorelice mans hi a th f f n si yso o s na my time at present will permit. The buildings at Skara may be generally described as a group of cham- bercellsd san , arrange botn do hopenind sidean , sof g into lona , g zig-zag or winding passage, which runs nearly parallel wit line beachhf th e o e On . chamberf seaware o t th se n o dpassagee s s i sidth f e o s land othee it ,th n -ro ward side wil s referenca a see,e b ly Groune nb th o et d Plan (Plate XL.) passage Th e (AAA, ground plan fee3 s froo i t)t widem2 , and, judging by the portion of the roof which remains at the south-east end, at n, has been fee 6 abou r t o doorwaye high5 t Th . r entranceso celle th so st are , a splane wil th seee b ,ly nalwayb s concave onth emaie parth nf o tpassag e side o thira r f tw gallery so largd d o (W)an eTw , .chamber ,L) d an C s( have already been discovered, but there is reason to believe that the entrances Hd O leaan unexplored.othert o dt ye s sa 1 chambee Th enteres i C r d doorwafroe e gallerth mth y b passagr yo A e JB, whic s abouhi fee2 1 t t long, 2J feet wid t outea e rfee3 end9 d t an , inche t innea s r endaboud an , t 3J feet high. Abou fee8 t t froe mth entrance, two jambs project slightly into the passage, and on the inner side of these, in the side walls, were bar holes (XX), and extending across the passage wit ends hit thesn si e holes lona , g ston s foundwa e , whicd ha h evidently been used as a bar to support or barricade a door. The widest part of the passage is between the jambs and the chamber. This chamber 1 Sinc above'wae eth s writte a largn e chamber whico t , openine hth g Ga forma the doorway, has been cleared out, and a lurge collection of bone beads, &c., were found in it. 204 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 18GT.

(C) is of a very irregular shape, and much dilapidated on the south-west side next to the cell. E,. and the. roof was entirely wanting. When the sand had been cleared out, the floor of the chamber was found, to be marke intf of do diyision compartmentsr so stoney b , f variouso s sizet se s on edge, some merely projecting an inch or two above the level of the floor, while others, especially those forming the compartment marked Z, were from a foot to .upwards of 2 feet in height. The stones at F evidently marked the hearth, as the space they enclose bore strong traces of fire, and was filled with ashes, mixed with fragments of burnt bones. Three stone kists boxer .o s (marked respectively a1, a2, planan 3o ) were also fount dse floore e uppeth th ,n i r e stoneedgeth f o s formin .boxee th g s projecting considerabl e smallesy Th abov s fitted . wa it et - with some th car t a e corners. A large stone about 5J feet in height stood on end in an angle in the east wall of the chamber. In the south corner, and a little above the level of the floor, is a small cell (D) about 4 feet in diameter, and only abou fee4 t t e highentranc feecele 2 Th inche7 s th .tl i o et s highd an , very narrow. Anothe soute rth smal n hchambere o sidth s i lf eo cel) (E l , into which it now opens; but whether it did so originally is doubtful, as there is no clearly defined doorway on that side, while at the further end there is such a doorway, which probably communicated with a chamber, to which I suppose the opening Ga was the entrance from the main passage r WatA.M 1 t foun draida n running beneat chambee flooe th hf th o r , C r in the directions indicated by the dotted lines b, b. The diameter of chambere th doorwae th , f fro o innee entrancr myth d o oppoe en r th o e-t site wall, is about 11 feet, and the average length, in the direction from north-eas south-westo t openine th o ,t g intabou s i cele , oth lE t 21J feet; but I am inclined to believe that the length originally was less by about feet3 , which space was occupie wala y ldb that separate e chambeth d r from the cell. Indications of this will be seen marked on the plan. The average height of the remaining walls of the chamber is between 5 and 6 feet; but the original height cannot be ascertained. The- walls are rudely built without mortar, and the corners or angles of the chambers have been rounded .off, and appear to have converged considerably in- markeo s n i dt e leswardsa'manneno th s t n ruinoui bu , s a r s chamber which has yet to be described. This supposition has since been found to be strictly correct. 1 NOTIC RUINF EO ANCIENF SO T5 DWELLINGS20 .

About 10 or 12 feet along the gallery or main passage (A), beyond the e entrancth f same o oute th doorwar d eo en o e en chamber th d f yan o , C r side, are seen two low openings. These give admission to a low triangular cell ov recess (G) about 6 feet long in front, 4^ feet in width to the point farthest back 3-|d - an , feet high. Immediately beyond this recesst a t bu , heigha f abouo t fee3 t t above passage flooth levee s th i f e th o f , r o leA an opening (see view of line p, q) extending backwards in the direction of the space where it is supposed another chamber will be found, and a few feet farther on, on the same side, is the doorway Ga already men- tioned. Nearly midway betwee doorwae recese th nth d san y G astona , e sen edgo t e acros e passagth s e project littlsa e abov e e floorth eTh . passage widens considerably beyond this stone t afterwardbu , s becomes narrower toward e south-westerth s n extremity, neae whico th t r n o h same side as Ga, is a low narrow opening (H), probably the entrance to another ruined chamber e gallerTh r .passag o y e (A ) AhavinA g only exteny beema t di n r t traceknowfeefa w ye tfe w t furtherda n ho no s i t i , in that direction. Nearly opposit smale e seawarth th o n elt o doorwa dd sidan f , o e yH the main passage, is a small opening (r) near the level of the floor, about 9 inches square, extendin thicknese th g walle intn i th e cel of ,th sM o l d commandinan e maith g n passage e doorwaTh . e ylarg th (Kf eo ) chambe s aboui ) fee7 (L rt t further towarde e north-easth th sf o d en t passage (A A A), and is nearly 4 feet wide at the outer end, but narrows to about 16 inches in the middle, then widens again to 2 feet, and finally contracts to 20 inches at its inner end next the chamber. The average height of the passage was 3 feet. The narrowest part was formed by two flag stones placed upright, one on each side of the passage. These served as jambs, and behind them, in the side walls, were bar-holes (y ij). One of these (s y) extended into the cell M, which thus served e doublth e purpos f guardineo e maigth n- en passag e th ed (Aan ) AA tranc large r doorwath eo f e o chambe) y(K . L r appearanco Thern s e chambeth e wa roo a o f t f eo whe L r r WatnM t e duwallth g s s a int e ruins werth od an e, greatly dilapidated, their original height cannot now be ascertained with certainty. The chambei is square in form, but the angles are rounded off as in the chamber C, and the diameter, measured on the floor, is about 21 feet' in the direction 206 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APKIL 1867.

from north-east to south-west, and between 19 and 20 feet in the other (Plate XXXIX). A space fora hearth (U) is marked off in the centre by stones set on edge projecting a little above the floor. The entrance to the guard-cell M is nearly midway between the doorway of the chamber L and the south-west wall. The north-east side of the chamber was divided into two compartments (Z Z) by large flagstones set on edge in the floor. There were remain thira f so d divisio opposite same th th n n eno o side ed sidan , e were two similar compartments (Z Z) separated from each other by a rudely built wall. The farthest end of the innermost compartment was similaa y shub n ri twal l (20). Beneath this wal vera l y thick rude clay urn was found. This discovery naturally suggests the question, When and place e t sufficientlb no who t d ym n a thercam ur I e y e e1 th acquainte d with the circumstances in which it was found to enable me to form any de- cided tim e opinioth e depositeo s t whe s na wa spoe t nwhicth i n i t n di t hi was discovered; but I think that it has been buried there either by the original occupier buildinge latea th t a f thos ry s o o b dat r ewh o ,e seemed to have appropriated the dwelling, and made alterations and additions, including, apparently, the rude wall beneath which the urn was found. I may mention, in connection with this, that urns have been found in the ruin f bro'ughsso t f onldepositei no ,s ya d there aftee buildingsth r d -ha ceaseinhabitede b o t d t sombu , e wer placeo es d that the evidentld yha y been standing there befor e structureeth d beeha sn abandoned n onI e. case I found an urn built into the wall of the brough. I have, therefore, o suppost bee t unusuad no le n s e thawa l t witi t e earlhth y inhabitants of Orkne retaio yt thein ni r dwellings cinerary urns containin ashee gth s of departed relative friendsr so . Thersquara s formeex wa e kisbo r f flagstonedo o t wese th tn si corne r chambere oth f , partly beneat floor e e leveth hth f . o l Besides the com- partments already mentioned, ther s anotheewa r (Z6) extending froe mth doorway of the chamber to the side of the compartment Z1. In the latter openinn a s i r doorwago y (N) which probably forme e entrancth d o t e another chamber or cell, the ruins of which have not yet been explored. •Ther anothes ei r opening (Se sectioe chambe2se ,th n , li)i ng r wala t a l height of about 4 feet above the floor of the chamber; but it has only been traced for about a couple of feet. In this recess lay the quartz celt, ISTo. 27. On'the opposite wall is a recess (u, see plan of recess and NOTIC KUINF EO ANCIENF SO T 7 DWELLINGS20 .

sectio , h)ny abou fee3 t t long inche0 2 , se middle 0 width 2 n d i e an , inches in height. The sole of this recess is about 4 feet above the floor of the compartment Z3. A curious structure was found at the north-west wall opposite the doorway of the chamber (see 0 0 on ground-plan, and section on the line e, /). The lower part may have been a bed; but if so, the stone, whose edge rises a little above the floor in the e middl"berth,th f o e " woul t havno d e e comforaddee th th o f t do t occupant, although it may have helped to keep him wakeful. There was a small opening or doorway t, through the wall at the back e loweoth f r divisio e structurth f o n e just referre , leadinto d a cel o lgt (P) 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. As the lower portions only of the cell remain, its original height is1 unknown, but probably it was 4 or squaro 5 feetTw e. stone boxes, simila o thost r e already noticed, were found in the floor of the chamber in front, and one at the south-west end of the " beds;" and at the other end stood a shallow stone vessel (18), simila thoso t r e discovere t Neda w Grang Irelandn ei otheo Tw r. stones, with shallow cavitie n theii s r upper surfaces, were found—one (22) between the entrance of the chamber and the division Z4, and the othe divisioe r (21th n i ) n smalZA 5. l ston (19p cu e) oute stooth - t da hearthe sidth f smalA eo . l square openin gnorte (Vth t h2a ) cornef o r e chambe th e entrancth s a celi r o lt e(Q) , about 4|- fee diametern i t , d 3Jan feet high, havin gdraia n froe centrmth e extending seawards. Between thie sea-shorsth celd an l sorea f sentry-boxo t r smalo , l oblong cell foun(T)s ,wa d apparently outsid detached an f eo d fro maie mth n build- ing. The drain (E), however, passes through this outwork in its way to shoree th . The. chambe r outwors abouo r wa fee) 6 t k(T t long, 2J feet wide 4d J an ,fee t high flagstonA . cele eth l f lai(T)o dd , acrosen e sth next the main building, a little above the level of the floor, appeared to have been useseata s da , whil t fronn i stooi e f o tdlarg a e square block of d stonbeeha n e t anvili n (23use a e floorf i s th )a ds , a firmln , i t yse bloca os whica rn ko breao ht r spliko t bones, shell-fish r similao , r articles of food. The side e chambewallth f so werL r e perpendicular shows e a , th y nb section on the line g, Ji, while at the angles, whiqh were rounded olf, walle th s converged considerably toward tope e wils th th see a e , b y l nb r WatM t e . sectio linf founth , e en o nd some large piece f ribo sf o s 208 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APKIL 1867.

whale n thii s s inclines chamberi e h thind o dt an , k that they have been use proo dt supporr po roofe th t . leavinn O . e chambe gth proceedind an , rL g eastwards alon e northgth - west side of the passage A A A, the next opening we come to is the doorway (V) nearly opposite to the triangular cell G. This doorway is about 6J feet in length, and from its entrance to two stone jambs thn i e side walls a distanc, s feet4 aboui f t e o i , fee2 t inche4 t s wide. Immediately beyond the jambs the width is nearly 3 feet, which gra- dually increase o e 3t sinne^ th feet ra textremity , wher stono tw e e slabs (W2) stand on edge across the end of the passage, and overlap each other, leaving a small space between the overlapping edges. The stones stand about 2 feet 9 inches in height, and the doorway appears to have been about the same height. These slabs, if viewed as fixtures, cannot have belonge originae th o dt l design r thefo , y virtuall ydoore closth p -eu way. Probably they were placed there by later occupants, because the maie th rooe doorwanf th o fpassag d falled an y , eha whic in n h opened into it had therefore become useless. A new entrance could easily have been made in the wall next the sea; but as that side of the chamber has entirely disappeared, no trace of such doorway can now be found even ha t dformerli o slaby tw existedquestion i se Th .n may, however, have been firmly placed at the inner end of. the doorway only to protect the chamber from invasion, and the assailants having obtained entrance by unroofin buildinge gth havy ema , slabe lefth t s undisturbe doore th t -da remainl thaway w e chambeAl no th t. f so r W whico t , e doorwath h y wese th leadstV n side o betweed s i , an , e south-westh n te corneth d an r doorway. A compartment (Z1), formed by the wall of the chamber and by slab flagstoner so s froinche8 1 foom1 o height edgen tn s i o t , se textend s from the left hand side of the doorway V to a narrow opening, forming entrance .th cele . th X l Thi o et s cell,- fro s positionmit s doubtleswa , a s guard chamber similar to the one marked M on the ground plan. The roof of the cell was wanting, the remains of the wall (X2) which formed norte th h side being only from 1J fee 2 fee feeo tw t t tfe high froA .m the entrance of the cell X, .along and close to the west side of the chamber (ax e floo5)bo th , ,a rabou ther n s foun i 0 inche t 2 wa et se d s inche8 squar1 d sean deep, formed, like othee thosth rn i echambers f o , flagstone thicr so k slates roughly dressed. Abou inche8 1 t s beyond this NOTIC RUINF EO ANCIENF SO T 9 DWELLINGS20 .

box was the end of a large compartment or pit (Z2), about 6| feet long, and from 3 to 4 feet in width. A low stone wall or bench surrounds the inner end, the side next the side wall of the chamber, and about soute th hal f ho f end. Ther a spac s ei f abou eo 6 inche1 t s "wide left sout e (lld th en t haa ) s betwee e flagstonesth n , apparentl doorwaya s ya . bees ha n t alreadI y state ddisappearedd thaha wale a th tl se nex e th t; t alonbu g that side three flagstones (VW) were found standin endn go , evi- dentl remaine yth compartmentf so s simila thoso rt e found throughoue tth building, and indicating the line of the side wall. Two stone boxes were in front of these stones, and a small stone cup was found in the box (4 )wese nexth chambere to t tsid th f e o anothe d an , clos) r (3 ston ep ecu boxese th t outsido t ,bu themf eo . There were boxealso o tw pitr so s (a3 a4) to the eastward of the three stones just referred to. In one was found a stone implement or ball (5) perforated through the middle and covered with projecting knobs. A cast of it is in the Museum of the Antiquaries. t furthese eastwarpi th r o o t x t bo d e containeTh e perforatedth d shells already referred to. The beautifully cut spherical stone ball (6), of which a cast is also in the Museum, was found between the two last mentioned stone boxes. A hearth is also indicated in this chamber by stones set on edge in the floor. There is also a cell (X) on the south side of the chamber entered by a low door about 18 inches square. The cell is 5J- feet long, and from 2 feet to 2 feet 3 inches wide. The roof was awanting. The building t Skarasa , bein ruinous o gentirels o s d an ,y buriee th n di sand, and those parts of the exterior of the walls, which have been un- covered s thea t beinyw no ,wer no g e whenn a found d ha I hav, t no e opportunity of judging what appearanc structure eth e would have presented r "WatwheM tol s outsidety e n d b thawa wall th intacte I th n tt o s, hu ; as far as he has examined them, were very rough. They had, however, been coated over by a layer of clay, intended, as he thought, to exclude wind and rain. Excavations round the landward side of the ruins would probably show whether thebeed yha n plastere l roundal d with clay. presene th n I texcavation e stagth f eo t woulsi premature db hazaro et d a conjecture as to the age of those interesting remains, but that they are of very considerable antiquit inferrede b y t onlyma no , y fro type mth f eo implements which have been hitherto discovered, they being exclusively of bone or stone, but also from the fact that the bones and horns of 210 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 18G7.

animals long since extinc Orkneyn i t , deee suchth rs a ,and believeds i t ,i , the Bos primigenius, were thickly strewed throughout the debris of the building. Another discovery, bearing on the probable age of the ruins, was that of a human skeleton, which. Mr Watt writes me lie found " lying on its face, northwite heae th hth o dt , just abov e fire-placeth e largesth n ei t house" (that marke grounn o dL d plan). "The knee beed ha sn tucked e armth sd foldean , upto d across e cheste lowesth th , e heas th ;t wa d havy ma epart d beean , n about three feet abov floore th e . There were some deer's bones higher up in the sand than the body, though I did not mee themf t o wit y han directl y over it." Mr Watt also found other human bones leanin e a come th n gi f o r passage nea e triangularth r cell. They were standing along with bones f themo e a ,on femur , &c. d beed ox an , ha e ,n oth fnotche t witcu hr do some rude instrument t havthay bu , tma e been merely accidental. skeleto e skule th f Th o l n fountypchambee a f th eo n d i s wit i rL h which I am familiar. The forehead is rather low and receding, and the nasal bones are very high. In the last respect it closely resembles other skulls which I have obtained from ancient graves in Orkney, but the notch at the root of the nose is deeper than in any of the skulls I have hitherto I hav s metA e .give n wit plane principae hth th lis a sf o t l relics found in the ruins, and indicated by figures the spots where some of them were severally discovered, it is unnecessary to recapitulate them all here. I may, however, remark that one of the stone cups, when found, contained masa f whitso e cla r pigmentyo , whic d apparentlhha y been kneaded; and on a level with, and near to another stone cup or small vessel, lay a lum f similapo r cla pigmentr yo , about hal fooa f t square smalA . l piece of red pigment,1 which had apparently been partially rubbed down, lay in anothe stila r placd l largean e; r mass, resemblin a bricg formn ki s wa , also discovere ruinse th I foun n .i d pieca d f blue-coloureo e d pigment last autum kitchena n ni midde Westrayn ni , along with ston bond an ee 1 The red pigment has probably been obtained from haematite of iron, as several pieces of the ore were found in the ruins. I gave a specimen of it to Major-General J. H. Lefroy, whe e visiteh n d Skar e asubmitten 1867 h i wit e d r m han fo , t i d analysis to Professor Abel of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, who stated that he found the specimen of iron ore to be silicious haematite, that it did not contain any manganese, but that a trace of cobalt was present in it, NOTICE OF BUINS OF ANCIENT DWELLINGS. 211

implements exactly resembling those found at Skaill; and I have, in the ruin f broughs so otheo tw rn o ,occasions , discovere d bluan e d pigre d - ments. Many of the bones found in the debris of the building, and in the midden, were splisplinteredd an t broker ,o n across I observe. d thae th t leg bones of the deer were, however, unbroken. Bones and teeth of the horse were frequent; and bones of the whale were found in considerable quantities, in most cases, however, converted into cups or vessels of a larg ee kitche sizeTh . n midde s thicklwa n y studded with fish-bones, chiefly of small fish, apparently the " sillock," or coal fish; but I also repeatedly recognised bonecode th f .so The bone implement othed san r bone relics were very numerouse Th . vertebra whale th f eso appea havo t r e been often converted into vessels for domesti t Skaila inche9 c e s usesOn wa ls . lond 1\gan broadd an , ha dcavita y centr e madth inchen e5 i diameten si 2d | an rinche s deep. There were several implements formee leg-bon th pare a f th f o dto f o e ox, having the shaft cut across obliquely, so as to' form a sharp edge like chisela face eTh thu. s forme vers di y smooth f froi s ma , frequent use. Ther larga s ei e circular transverse openin othee th t gra end, nea jointe rth , apparently to afford a firm hold when using the implement, which M.r Watt suppose havy sema been employe n skinnindi r flayingo g animals. An exactly similar implement was found by Mr Farrer in the Knowe of Saveroch, Birsay, and is now in the Antiquarian Museum. Nos. 28 and 29 of the drawings accompanying this, represent two of the implements found at Sandwick. One of them is in my possession. There were same th ef o severaI founfor type e d th n Wesm i ef on dan o lNo, - 30 . tray. Mr Watt has picked up nearly 100 of the bone pegs or pins in the ruins and kitchen midden. They vary in length from 2 to about 5 inche?. Nos. 36 and 38 are two-pronged; 'No. 39 is very sharp at the broadest or lance-shaped end ; No. 40 is flat on the one side, while the other is con- edge l th roun vexet al bu tolerabl,s d i y sharpfoue Th r numbere. e ar 1 d4 apparently ornament pendantr o s dressa d exactlo st an , y resemble those whic seal-skie seeth e hn ar n o n dresse Esquimaue th f so presene th f xo t day. bona s i e 2 marke4 . No d with nine encircling - notchesan s i Nod 3 an 4 .; other, with only seven notches, som whicf eo h have become nearly effaced founds sincwa t ei , which3 owins decaye4 it . o t gI , No ds i state t I . 2 21 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APRIL 1867.

think s figurei , Dy b dr Daniel Wilso"s Pre-historihi n ni c Annalf o s similarly-markea Scotland." s i 4 4 . No , d bone, with seven notches, which I got from the kitchen midden in Westray, and already referred to, but as one of the ends is wanting, the original number of notches is now uncer- tain. Various opinions, _some very fanciful, have been expresse s toa d purposese th whico t h such notched bones have been applied. Having observed in Mr Watt's collection several bone beads which had never been polished, but still retained the rough edges of the fracture, where bone beed th eha n first notched nearly through thed an ,n broken across, I placed them beside the notched bone, No. 42. The unfinished bead 44C, as e drawingwil th seee b ly nb , so. nearly correspond sizgeneran d si ean l appearance, includin distince gth t trace f notchingo s , wit e divisionth h s into whic e bonhth s markeei doubo n d d toffha , I tha Wat r d M t an t that the beads had been formed by a similar process, and that the notched bone simple sar y bone bead embryon si . The two curious relics, Nos 16 and 17, were found at the spots respec- tively indicate thesy db e number plane th n . t unlikso Theno e e eth y ar Esquimaux " forks" presented to the Museum by Dr Rae. They appear to be of coarse ivory, and were probably highly valued, as we may infer fro hole mwhicy th b e h eac s perforatedhi e purposo doubth n , r fo f t eo suspending e fortunattheth mo t e owners. largee Somth f ro e bon- eim plements, resembling that numbered 32, are so blunt'at the point that it is difficult to conjecture to what purpose they have been applied, unless it were to serve as pegs by which the skins of animals were kept stretched out while drying possibls . wa N1 oy3 usespooa a I founda n! d onef .o same th e for Westraymn i . deed an r x wero Horne eth welf so l represente e t Skaraoda e th f On . horns rather o , r horn-coresmeasurex o e th f do , upward inche0 1 f sn o si circumference near the base ; and although nearly the half was wanting, the length, in a straight line, from one extremity to the other (not along the curve) was 1 foot 1 inch. A tooth of a walrus was also found at Skaracombe Th ., whic t beecommoo s ye broughse ns ht i th no n ni s ha , me tSkare witth n hai ruins. The stone relics are very numerous. Several stone mortars were found. One of them was discovered in the chamber W, at the spot marked by figure d evidentlth ha et I 9. y been long'use grino dt r pouno d d some NOTICE OF R01NS OF ANCIENT DWELLINGS. 213

sor f whito t e cla r pigmentyo e cavit th s encruste s a y,wa d wit ha har d whitish coating resembling enamel mortare Th . , when discovereds wa , nearly filled with fish bones, whic d apparentlhha y been pounded intoa mas minutf so e fragments connection I . nthrowins a with d an , g lighn o t this discovery slaty ema thatI , e presen, th eve n i n t century e inhath , - bitants of North Eonaldshay, at any rate in a time of great scarcity, used fish-bones, pounde t theiou rde scant fineek o t ,y suppl f t meali yo d an ; a commo s wa n saying among s complaininthemwa e , on whe y f o gnan scarcity of food, " Thank Guid, thu're no come tae ait (eat) the fish-banes stone yet.Th e "implemen t resemblin ga ship' s block f whico , hI giv ea drawing (No thire . th 48) ds i , tha s beeha t n discovere n Orkneydi r fa o s , possessiony s m probabl ha n i t s I i a sI know.e y beeOn .n usea s da weapon, by being attached to a handle by a thong or piece of skin, or to a "lasso." Bough stone hatchet choppersr so , suc drawingthoss e ha th n ei , wer bar-holee t unfrequentth eno f o e founf s sbrokeo on A wa n .di e non the doorway of the chamber L. Stone cups were found in several places. Two specimens are shown in the drawings. The triangular box (No. 49), contained, when found quantita , f kneadeyo d pigment. Stone celte sar rarely foun Orkneyn Watr di discoveres M t ha t bu , d severa builde th n i l- ing he has been exploring. Although tolerably sharp at the edge, they are generally rough on the sides. The two smallest celts are, however, highly polished r WatM . t thinks i 5 1 jasperf s o . tha . 4-s i No 5 No t. quit miniaturea e implement. type Ther f stonon eo s ei e implement very abundan t Skailla t . These are flakes of hard old red sandstone, generally of a circular or oval shape, and of various sizes—say from 2 to 8 or 9 inches in diameter. They have been broken off from water-worn stones, and have invariably one side smooth, while the other shows the fracture. One edge is always thicker tha othere nth , whic almoshs i t invariably ver speciye sharpon -n I . men whic threr hhaveo I o e notchetw , s have been sharmade th pn ei edge, as if for the purpose of converting it into a sort of saw. There were hun- dreds of those flakes found at Skara, but not one has received the slightest polish, and very few of those found seem to have been used, as most of thei flakee rbee th d shars edgef a i ha s n e s pa newlsar y detached. occasioe on n o nWhils carefullwa eI y examinin larga g ee heath f po flakes I observe, e fracture dnotca th n ho de thickes th sid f eo t edgf o e P VOL. VII. PAR . TI 4 21 .PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APRIL 18C7.

On f theeo m (see No.. 4f drawings)6o , whic d evidentlhha y been caused by the stroke or blow by which the flake had been .produced. I took up one after another of the heap, and found that all bore the same charac- teristic mark, which, I think, is good evidence that they are artificial. Every flake, therefore, which does not possess such a token, has invari- ably been rejected. The notch very much resemble mare th s k which woul e madda b y eb pointed instrument usea wedgethas a s a dt woulbu , d impl yknowa - ledge of metal, of which no trace has hitherto been found in the ruins, Mr Watt expressed his opinion that the flakes had been produced by a smart, dexterous, stroke with a stone held in the-hand on the edge of a suitable stone resting on a large supporting stone. The mark or notch wher stroke eth d takeneha effec e deepetb appeareo t re tham y o dnt an which suc bloha w was likel makeproceso e yt Th whic.y sb h these rude stone implement beed sha n obtained seeme .bo dt e stil mattela doubtf o r . Accident has, however, apparently reveale e secretd th probabld an , e yth people who inhabited the Orkneys, and used these stone flakes or primi- tive knives long ages ago, were similarly directed to the discovery of the simple means by which such implements can be easily and readily obtained to any amount. examinins Whewa I n g some artificial mounds last autumne th n i , islan Westrayf do I discovere, e kitcheth d n midde whico t n I hhav e already alluded findiny b , g p. flak mouna e n wito notc e t di hth whicn ho h the recent driftine san laid th ddha f o gbare. I remarke, a frien o t d d who accompanie , tha I me dtexpecte discoveo dt r bone implements also in the mound. We immediately set to work with pocket knives to dig mounde int th face of wereth d eo an , , soon rewarde findiny db g bone pins and great numbers of stone flakes similar to those from Skara, and the notched bone, No. 44 of the drawings. I was afterwards strolling on the rocks belo cliffse t wconsiderablth bu , y above high-water mark, whee nth appearanc a stone f o e , whic d recentlha h y been broken, attractey m d attention. On lifting it, I saw, with some surprise, that a flake of a circular shap beed eha n recentl uppee y th struc t ra edged k an fro ,, mit wher stroke e th d takeneha notch a effect s e counterparth wa ,, f thoso t e by which the flakes found at Skara are characterised. The broken surface ston th y uppermost f la es stileo wa l coated an , d wit a whith e NOTICE OF RUINS OF ANCIENT DWELLINGS. 215

powder, produced by the How which had severed the flake. This was sufficient evidence that the stone had been broken only a few hours befor eI discovere heava s a y, dit rai n whic falled hha n durin e nighgth t would have washed away the powder had the fracture been made the previous day. Pondering over these facts n t occurrei , so thae y m m t o dt and a companion, who had shortly before gone along the cliffs, had been amusing themselves by dashing stones on the rocks, and had thus unwit- tingly rediscovered the ancient mode of producing the rude' stone imple- ments of the early inhabitants/ Acting on that supposition, I dashed the broken stone, which I still held in my hand, on the rocks ; and as I con- fidentl ygreay expectedm to t delight d an , a flak, s detacheewa goos da d as any found at Skara, and with a notch clearly defined. I frequently repeated the experiment, and with invariable success; and I have little doubt that such was the simple mode by which the flakes of the ancient kitchen middens in Orkney were' generally obtained. To break them off with another stone wielded in the hand, would be a process both tedious and uncertai resultss it n believi I . mucea h more powerful stroke than can bo given in that way is necessary to produce a notch like the one which is always made by dashing the stone on the rocks, or on another stone of sufficient size and hardness to resist the blow. The notch on the ancient flakes, and on those which I obtained in the manner described, has a peculiar appearance, more easily recognised than described. considerablA e numbe f circulao r r disc f clay-slateo s f variouo , s sizes, inche 4 inche 5 fror 1 o o r m1st 3 n o 4diameter i s , have been fount a d Skara. They have' been roughly chippe r dresseo d d inte presenoth t form, and have been used as covers for the rude vessels of baked clay, of which numerous fragments are found. These fragments of pottery gene- rally bear marks of exposure to strong fire, and are doubtless the remains of vessels which have been in use for cooking and other domestic purposes. effecte Th f strono s g fire alsar eo visible i ncircla r margieo n roune th d discse edgth f e,o which appea havo t r e projecte extene incn th a f o hdt o t beyono s r moute vessele dth th f ho s they covered. During last summer, stone and bone implements, similar to several of those foun t Skarada , were discovere varioun di s part Orkneyf so I foun. d stone flakes at Stromness, Birsay, Burray, and "Westray; discs at Harray and Westray I believ d an , e the frequentle yar y foun n Shetlanddi . -Bone 210 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, APRIL 1867.

pins and bone scoops were found at Westray, as already mentioned. A perforated bone chisel (similar to Nos. 28 and 29 of drawings) was found by Mr Farrer at Birsay some years ago. It is evident from the localities where these implements have already been discovered, that the people who used them were distributed generally ove islandse th r . e thesRudar es a e ston d bonan e e relics foun Orkneyn di large th , e collectio stonf no e implements discovere Shetlann di 1865—mann di f yo them picked up by myself—are not less rude and primitive. About sixteen or seventeen years ago I opened, in Orkney, two barrows, each containin gkistvaea n with some burnt a d t bonean ashe, d it san n si kistvaee th f o d n en (th outside e th eon north-eas f eo stonta end)- y ela im , plement of the same type with the majority of those from Shetland. About the same time I got another implement somewhat similar, but displaying more care bestowe s manufactureit n o d d approximatinan , stone th eo gt cel formn ti I foun. barrowt a alsdi n oi , containin kistvaega somd nan e burnt bones. One of the rudest form was sent by me to the Antiquarian Museum labelles i , stont i 1 ; . deS . cel"A t foun grava n di e unde tumura - lus, parist AndrewsS f ho , Orkney. Presente y Geob d . Petrie, 1850." Crematio s usuallni y assigne e Bronzth o t de period, including alse oth latest stageStone th f eso period Orkneyn i t I hav bu , s a , e shown have w , e t associatei d wit mose hth t primitive form stonf o s e implements. According to Mr Evans, Mr Westropp, and others who concur with them flinte th , s gravee founth n di l drif e earliesth t e "ar t known forms o frudese weaponsth f o t d nature an ,f forme i peopl s a mos e a , y th db tn ei degraded stat f barbarism.o e " "They presen o analog n e wellt th -o yt known implements of the so-called Celtic or Stone period. They have appearance havinf so g been fabricate anothey db a r racn f o meno e d an , much larger scale, as well as of ruder workmanship." " They are thus," says Mr Westropp, " evidences of a much earlier stage of development, and of an age of ruder strength, and still more infantile skill; perhaps, earlien a toof o ,r specie human-lika f so e race e companioth , contemd nan - porary of the extinct bear, the extinct rhinoceros, the mammoth, and other larger animals no longer in existence." The stone implements lately found in such numbers in Orkney and Shetland are as rude as the weapons fro gravee mth l drift; and, therefore inferencey an , s drawn fro rude mth e nature of the latter would be equally deducible from the stone implements NOTIC EU1NF EO S 01' ANCIENT7 SWELLINGS21 .

found in Orkney and Shetland. The one would be as good evidence as othee th f "aro n earlier specie human-lika f so e race;" but, unfortunatelr yfo e pre-A.damitth e theory e Orkneth , y implements, althoug e rudesth f ho t type, have been found in circumstances decidedly opposed to it. They were associated at Skara with other relics, displaying much greater care and skill thein i r manufacture havd an , e been discovere sucn di h number leavo t s sa e no doubt that they were in common and constant use by a people who cooked their foo fire-baken di d cla beeys also o vesselsha ns wh ,a alread d ,an y shown, practised cremation deposited an , ashee dth theif so r honoured dead in an urn of stone or baked clay, enclosed in a kistvaen, beneath a monu- mental mound. Besides, the horizontal arching of the cells, the con- e verginmaie wallth th f n o f so gchambers , and, generally e pecuth , - liaritie whold san e characte e largd th complicate an f eo r d specimef no ancient domestic architecture at Skara, show that its builders had attained considerablo t e constructive skill furnisd an , h another proof that they were greatly in advance of that lowest stage of barbarism which the rudest forms of flint and stone implements are now usually assumed to indicate. It is not, therefore, a fair and legitimate inference from the discovery of a vertypw stonf ylo eo e implements, thae rac th y whot b e m they were mad used ean d coul t producdno e better specimen f theiso r handiworkr o , that they had never been acquainted with metals. The facts furnished by the late researches in Orkney and Shetland, especially at Skara, seem to point in another direction, and to lead to the conclusion, that the tribes whose remains have been discovered had, before their arrival in those islands, been in a higher state of civilization.. That it was not, there- fore, ignorance of metals, nor inability to fabricate a higher class of im- plements than those found, that originated the latter, but simply that they were compelled by sheer necessity to make use of the only materials attainabl thein ei r isolated position. It is evident, then, that the rude nature of the implements, apart from other fact d circumstancesan s , canno e accepteb t proos da theif o f r great antiquity. It would be premature to attempt to fix an age for the ruins and relics discovere t Skarada , unti e wholth l e mas remaininf so g buildings ther bees eha n thoroughly explorestronglm a I t dy ;bu incline hopeo dt , that the ancient refuse heaps, which are not unfrequent along the shores 8 21 PKOCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APRIL 1867.

of Orkney, conjoine s the a e dwit yar h ruin f buildingsso , will helpo t thro we Kjokkenmb'dding th ligh n o t f otheo s r districts o point d t an , out the people to whom they ought to be assigned. .

LIST of e Implementssomth f eo . (se&c e, Plate XLIL),e founth n i d Ancient Euins at Skara, Sandwick, Orkney. - Corresponding numbers are marked on the Ground-plan (Plate XL.), to indicate the spots where some of them were found. 1. Stone Mortar. 2. -Stone Celt. 3. Small Stone Vesse Cupr o l . 4. Do. do., found in box or pit«'. 5. Curious Stone Weapon or Ball, perforated in middle, and covered with large projecting knobs. 6. Beautifully cut Stone Ball, with knobs or projecting points all over it, found amongst a quantity of ashes. Pitr o whicn ,x i 7Bo .h perforated oyster shells were found. 8. Oval-shaped Stone Cup. 9. Large Stone Mortar, inside encrusted with awhite substance likeenamel; it contained a large quantity of fish-bones finely bruised or crushed. 10. Bundle or Sheaf of Bones of same kind of which the pins, &c., seem havo t e been made. 11smalA . l piec "Whalebonef eo f intendei s a ido n t a "r r lo , cu Fetish. dfo " 12. Large Vessel, made ro vertebra f whalea f ao . 13. Stone Cup. 14. Do., and on a level with and near it, a lump of very white cla r pigmentyo , about hal fooa f t square founds wa , . 15. Very small Celt. 16. Large Implements, ivory (?). . 17 -Do. . .do -do.; . Larg18 e Stone, with cavity, probably mortaa use s da r rubbin fo r r go pounding corn. 19. Small Stone Cup. 20. Large Urn coarsf ,o e clay, found underneath cross wall. 21. Shallow Stone Vessel. NOTICE OF RUINS OF .ANCIENT DWELLINGS. 219

22. Similar Vessel, with very shallow cavity. 23. Stone Block, probably had been used for breaking bones, shell-fish, &c., on it. 24. Large Bone Vessel, mad vertebra f eo whalea f ao . 25. A Circular Disc or Plate of clay slate, found with 16 stone flakes or knives severad an , l bones sheepe , th suppose f o . e b o dt . Severa26 l Human Bones were found standin endn go , leanin cornea n gi r e passageoth f , along with "bone f animalsso . 27. Cel Quartzf o t , foun thn di e openin chamben i gS . L r 28,29,30. Bone Implements, of which several specimens have been found. 31. Bone Implement, another exactly similar was found in a refuse heap in Westray. 32. 33, 34, 35, and 37. Bone Implements, of which at least 100 have been found. 36, 38. Two Two-pronged Implements like forks. 39. Bone Implement,probably a lance head; it has a sharp edge at broad end. . Piec40 Flaf eo t Bone, very smooth, apparently from frequent use. 41. Four Ivory Pendants or Ornaments. 42. 43. Two Notched Bones, marked off into sizes for beads. similaA . 44 r Notched Bone, from Westray. 44a, 44C. Beads, made from notched bones. . Beautifu45 l Cel jaspef o t r (?). 46. 46a, 47. Stone Flakes or Knives, of old red sandstone. . Ston48 e Implement, har freestoned dre . . Smal49 l Stone Box whicn ,i h som pigmend ere founds wa t . . Eud50 e Stone Knif claf eo y slate. 51. 52. Stone Cleavers or Hatchets of clay slate. 53. Celt of old red sandstone. . Cel 54 serpentinef o t .

A sketc l colour e oi interio e th largn hi th f so f e o r chambe t Skarara , grounf o L ( d plan Plate XL.), e spotaken th Octobe n i tn o r e 1863th y ,b late Mr John Cairns, artist, was presented by him as a Donation to the Society in May 1866 (see Pro. vol. vi. p. 419), along with a collection of stone and bone relics from the same locality, by Mrs Cairns. Mr Cairns' sketc engraves hi d here (see Plate XXXIX.)