NOTE SMALLF SO , ORNAMENTED STON9 2 E BALLS.

III. NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS FOUND IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF , &c.; WITH REMARKS ON THEIR SUPPOSED AGE AND USE. BY JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH, M.D., F.S.A. SOOT. (PLATES I., II.) Stone balls, or rather round stones or pebbles, more or less circular in form, and of various sizes, are frequently found along with other ancient remains, e ruinth ancienf n so i r t structures numeroue , sucth s a h s broche th f so nort Scotlandf ho . Man thesf yo simpl e ear y natural pebble quartf so r zo other stones, arid frequently show traces on their sides of having been struck or rubbed against other hard surfaces; they are believed to have been used for bruising or rubbing such substances, as grain or dried fish, &c. Various examples of these rude natural balls are in the Museum. Ther othee ar e r example f roundeso d stones that have probably been used for purposes, the stones being heated and then added to water contained in wooden or even skin vessels containing meat, &c., which may be cooked in this way, as indeed is still done among some of the aborigines "Assinneboins,e th s a , r "o " Ston e Boilers, f Wester"o n America and in other parts of the world. The old system of cooking or Zealanderw y heatinNe b e bakins th g wa sf o gstone s with fire, then covering them with moistened leave n whico s e meas placeth h wa t d s whics turagaiit wa nn ni h covered with more leaves d thean n, al] were covered over with earth whole th ; e proces f bakino s g goinn i n go this way, unti e experienceth l Zealandew Ne d r knew tha fooe s th t dwa sufficiently cooked. These and other uses of heated stones are known, and it is possible that various stones in our museums may have been thus used as cooking or. boiling stones. Other stone ball f variouo s s sizes have been use weapons da f offenceso , being thrown fror enginemwa f differenso t kinds catapultss a , e , &cOn . in my possession, formed of a white, hard, compact limestone' almost like marble, is considerably chipped at its sides so as to make it irregularly circular in character; it measures 4 inches in. diameter, and now weighs founds 2wa Ibt I , .wit 10-. hJoz numerous others thn i , e cours makf eo - ing excavations outside the walls of Jerusalem, and was given to me by my friend Ada . MessermC recena n ,o M.D. tt i visi t o ,t tgo R.N. o wh , Palestine. 0 3 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , DECEMBE , 1874R14 .

Besides these, ther e stonear ee Museu hallth n i s f differenmo t sizes, f moro d e an modern manufacture, which were probably usea muc t a d h later perio s stonda e shot I :refe r especiall o thost y e presentee th o dt Society in July 1860, by Col. C. F. Skyring, E.E., which were found when excavations were made for the new battery at Broughty , Fife. These varied from 4 to 8 inches in diameter. Others, from 2 to 3 inches diametern i , were presente Todr M ,y dDirletonb Februarn ,i y 1862, which were found with a number of others in excavating at the ruins of Dirleton Castle, Haddingtonshire. Other stone balls have been, and indeed are still, used as sinkers, or sink stone fishinr sfo g line netsd san . These, however generalle ,ar y much ruder in character and less worked or circular in form, being often simply oval-shaped stones pierced with a hole, or grooved in different directions for cords which tied them to the fishing line or net. The stone balls, however whico t , calo t hI wisl w youno h r attention, are of a different character, and were certainly put to a very different use. They are all more or less sculptured or ornamented on their surface, n varioui s style d patternsan s , and, froth their appearanc d theian e r generally carefully finished character, seem rather, to suggest something that handled beea o -ha t nfavouritd a use, s attachedan ,be a d y ema t i , weapon either in the chase or in war, in the style of the ancient mace or medieval " morning star." Thes eaboul ball al same e tth sar e size—thaf o t an orange—however much they may vary in the more or less elaborate characte theif ro r ornamentation Museue th Societe n th I f .mhav e o yw e a series of interesting examples of these balls shewing different styles of ornament. e stoneTh e sub-dividesb bally ma s d into several classes r ratheo , r varieties—first, those covered over all their surface with small rounded projections secondd an ; , those with circular discs, either plai r ornano - mented, which project mor r leso e s from their surface thirA . d class may also include stone balls of a corresponding size, with their surface mor lesr eo s carefully polished. . / Stone Balls carved over their whole surface with small projectionsn i low relief. (1.) Waterlair, Garvock Hill, Kincardineshire.^—This stone ball'was 1 Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. iv. p. 292. NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STON1 3 E BA.LLS.

presented to the Museum in 1861, by Mr John S. Gibb. It is formed of a greenish-coloured gneiss, and a small vein of quartz runs through . it par Thif o t s bal s coverei l l oveal d r with small rounded projec- s foun wa reliefw dt tionlo I amon.n i s e roota largth gf o se tren i e trenching ground whic d beehha n covered wit d Scothol e sth firsn o , farm of Waterlair, on the north east end of Garvock Hill, Kincardineshire. The ball measures 2f inches in diameter, and weighs 17 ounces avoirdupois.

(2.) Isle of SJcye.—A stone ball of a pale-coloured claystone was pre- sentee Museu th r Kenneto dSi t y mb . MackenzihS f Gairlocho e , Bart., in 1861. It is also covered over with small rounded projections t thesbu ; e projections are a good deal larger and in higher rplief than on the one first de- scribed (se annexee eth d woodcut). This stone Isle founs balth e wa ln di of Skye in 1847. It measures 2-f inches n diameteri e projectionsth , being each about half an inch in height, and it weighs 17| ounces. Stoiie Ball found in the Isle of (3.) Main, Morayshire.e th n I — Skye. Museu f Elgimo n ther s preservei e a d stone ball, also covered with small rounded projections founs wa d t I . about a mile south of Elgin, half way between Birnie and Elgin, on the south sid f Hereo d Hillock e far th f Mainmo n o , fee2 , t under ground, during trenching, July 20, 1863, and the finder, whom the Eev. Dr Gordon of Birnie, a Corresponding Member of the Society, saw recently, informed him there was nothing about the spot to make it different from the surrounding ground, which was rough and heathery. The place is con- nected wit Elgie hth n Asylu exercisn a ms a e ground. It appears to be formed of gneiss, with very minute crystals of 8 horn-blend felspard e balan e Th l .measure s 2T g- inche diametern si e th , projecting knobs measuring abou tincn -^ta heightn hf i ho n , a ftf ho inc n breadthi h d abouan , n inct a £t hf h o between each kno t theiba r bases t weighI . s exactly 19£ ounces. 2 3 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , DECEMBE1 , 1874.14 4

I am indebted both, to Dr J. C. Howden of Sunnyside, Montrose, and . Joasse KevM tth o . J ., LL.D. f Golspieo , r sketchefo , detaild an s f o s this curious stone ball.

(4.) Skaill, .—There is in the Museum a plaster cast of a sand- stone ball, carved all over with small projections in bold relief; but these projectionmuco s roundea t f h o af no n o e s angulada ar s r character. The ball was found between two stone divisions or boxes, amongst a quantity of ashes, in the curious underground dwelling at Skaill, Orkney, full detail whicf so givee h ar Georg y nb e Petrie, Esq., Cor. Mem. S.A.Scot., r Proceedingou f o vol 9 . 20 vii s. p .(wher balle efigured)th e sar . It measures, like many of these balls, 3 inches in diameter. In the same dwelling; discovered underground at Skaill, another stone ball, or rather oval stone, was found. It is covered like the last with similar small angular projections, cnt ove surfaces it r . This stone, however, is less regular in shape, being more oval, measur- ing 3|- inches in greatest diameter, and 3J inches across. It is rather hollowed out on each side, where it is perforated by a hole 1 inch across, which tapers to \ of an inch in the middle. From its size and styls e ornamentationit th f eo , althoug s shapit h s somewhai e t different, it may be supposed to belong also to the same class as the one last de- scribed. A cast of it is in the Museum, to which it was also presented Watr byM Skaillf o t . founds Petrir wa t M papes ,I hi eSkaill n n tello ri s su , already referred e divisionth f o r stone o s on e n boxei , to f thiso s curious underground house.

. // Stone Sails ornamented with circles, t withcu more lessr o projection on their surface. e stonTh e ball f thio s s divisioe mosth e t ar nnumerous ; they have a series of rounded divisions or circles, varying in number, cut more or less deeply over their surface; the surface of these circles themselves n i som s i e instance sn i other plain t intd cu san o , different orna- mental patterns. The spaces left between the circles are also in some cases ornamented. In some stone balls these circles are simply cut, as it were, in mere outline over the surface of the ball, while in others NOTE SMALF SO L ORNAMENTED STON3 3 E BALLS.

the e perhapar y s fewe n i numberrdeeplo s t that e smalcu yth bu t , l circles stand up as distinct discs or knobs, completely changing the out- circulae th lin f o e r ball int a oregula irregularlr o r y bosse r knobbeo d d outline f thesO .e knobs som e plain ar d eother an , s ornamenten i d different patterns. I shall refer first to those stone balls where the circles are numerou onld san y slightl r indenteo t ycu d inte surface oth th f o e rounded stone d nex an o thos,t t e where they project s mora ,r leso e s strongly defined bosses, fro surface balle mth th f . eo In many of these balls there is one or more central discs, around which the others appear to be cut or grouped. In some cases this disc is larger and in others smaller than the rest, and it is sometimes left plain or unornamented, while the others are more or less ornamented. It seems thus to suggest the part of the hall to which a thong or handle of some kind might possibl attachede yb .

(1.) Glenfarquhar, Kincardineshire.—The first stone bal I shall l notice I hav e eon alreade ith s y describe e previouth n i d s paper, which was found at Glenfarquhar, parish of Fordoun. Only a little more than half of the ball is preserved, and it shows traces of no less than five circles cut slightly in outline on its surface. The ball is formed apparently of a dark fine-grained hornblende rock. It measures about 2f inches in diameterweighw no d s an lO, f ounces. The next stone bal showine I lshal on ls i refe , g to alsr a numbeo f o r circles ver s surfaceyit slightln o t , indeedycu , merel n outlineyi ; these circles, however ornamentee ar , varioun di s ways.

(2.) The Paton Collection, Dunfermlina, Fife (with 15 discs).—This stonf fivo ee e specimenon bal s i l s whic r NoeSi h l Pato s kindlha n y sent at my request for exhibition to the Society. It was formerly in the collection of his late father Mr Neil Paton, F.S.A. Scot. Of all these five balls the history has now by Mr Paton's death been most unfortu- nately lost. It is probable they all belong to Scotland ;• most likely they may have been foun e countiesomn di th f eo s surrounding Dunfermline, where Mr Paton long resided, and was well known as a collector of Scottish antiquities, but no record of their discovery or the localities in which they were foun s apparentlha d y been preserved. This stone ball VOL. xr. PART. i. . o 34 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBEK 1-1, 1874. is entirely covered over with small circles cut in outline, and projecting very slightly from the surface.of the ball. The circles are irregularly placed ovee surfacth r f th'o e e ball e interspaceth , s being larger between, some circles than others; the alse yar o ornamente varioun di s ways, some being covered with a series of concentric circles, and others with inter- lacing lines crossing one another diagonally, while-one or two others have their surfaces picked out into small dots or holes. These small circles are no less than fifteen in number.' The ball has been apparently blackened artificially, or simply by long handling, and seems to be formed of a hard heavy basalt or trap rock. It measures 3 inches in diameter, and the circles cut'upon'it vary from 1-g-th to Ifth inch across. It weighs 21 ounces.

(3.) Paton Collection, DunfermKne, Fife (with 12 discs).—The next stone ball fro Patoe mth n Collectio irregularls ni y divided into nine circles projecting nearly a quarter of an inch from the ball, and three smaller oblon somewhar go t oval figure ; soccupyin g thus, wit e deehth p between them e wholth , e surfaccircle e balle Th th f .s eo average about 1-Jj- inch across; and the oblong figures, the largest one 1-| inch long breadthn i b y1 othere th , inc1 s n lengti h abouty b h ' halincn a fn hi breadth. This stone ball measure inches3 n diametersi weighd an , 1 s2 ounces; it is formed of a dark green or rather black crystalline hornblende- like rock.

(L)-Inverkeithny, Aberdeenshire (with 7 discs).—The Eev. Mr Suttor, parish ministe f Inverkeitlmy,o r ' presente .Museue th o . 1872t dm in , throug . JerviseA r M h , Cor. Mem. S.A. Scot. n ornamentea , d stone ball" more irregular in shape than the other stone balls described, which has seven circular bosses projecting from'its surface. It is formed ap- parently of a porphyritie-like clay slate, measures 2-| inches in diameter, and weighs 14 J ounces.

(5.) Budfield,- Leochel-Cushnie, Aberdeenshire (with 7 discs). — A stone ball having apparently seven irregularly projecting circular knobs or discs'with curved top s; eac h knob being'1 inc diametern hi ornas i , - mented wit incisen ha d pattern'of lines crossin e anotheon g r nearlt ya righ ts foun angleswa dt I in'. a tumulu e far th f Budfieldmo n o s n i ; NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 35

e paristh f Leochel-Cushnieo h s exhibitewa d y Wan b d, . M'Combie, Esq. of Tillyfour, at the Archeeological Exhibition, at Aberdeen in 1859. It is stated to be formed of a stone resembling flint, and measures 3 inches in diameter.

(6.) Strathwilkie, Coul, Cromar, Aberdeenshire (with 7 discs).—I m a indebte e kindnes th e Eev o dr t th Joas D f . so f Golspi o snotee th r sefo and drawin thif go s curious stone ball e possessio, th whic r n i He s hi f no Majest t Balmoralya r EobertsoD . n inform r JoasM s s that " this ball was found in 1860, upon the farm of Strathwilkie, Parish of Coul, .Cromar, Aberdeenshire s lesi st I regula. n shapi rornamentation d an e , than the other stone ball at Balmoral Castle (to be afterwards described), whic founs hwa t Buckhall a d . Arrange circulae on n di r line, thery ema seee b u five bosse f verso y rude carvin d rathegan r irregular shapet bu , somewhat approaching to circular outline. On the two spaces thus lef e garlant th frey b ef fivd o e bosse o larges tw ther e r ar eone s raised, of which one is divided by two furrows, which gives it the appearance oa rudelf y carved cross similaA . r cross appeare fivth e f o s e oon n above-mentioned bosses, whic e arrangear h sora garlanf s o ta d d around the ball." This stone ball appears to be formed of a serpentine rock, it measures 2| inche diametern i s . (See figur , Plat1 e e I., fro mcarefua l sketch Sahl.r byM ) This ball correspond describe e characten i son e th s da o rt j'ust found at Budfield s interestini t I . s havina g g disc f largeo s r size disce th f s sideso it divideals d o f o an o ,tw o crosseoy dnb tw groovesr so , r givinfo e gb y additionama t i whicy b handl y l e firmneshti an e eth o t s s probabli migh t I attachee b t. eit thao t d t handle beed sha n fixeo dt these ball strapy sb thongr so leatherf so .

(7.) Loclmdgar, Ballater, Aberdeenshire (with discs).—6 This stone ball was found near Lochnagar Distillery, Ballater, Aberdeenshirep to e th n o , of Craigbeg, where three short stone were also discovered ciste Th s. contained ashes and bones. The stone ball was found about a foot from cists.e th on f o e . ciste surroundes Eacth swa f o h circla y stonef b do e s weighing apparentl 5 cwts.1 y diametee fromo t th , e circl5 .s th f wa o er about 15 feet; these might probably be the retaining stones of a which 36 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 187t. formerld ha y covered thsurfacs it e n stonx o si et e cu e balcistss Th ha l . circular discs, varyin sizgn i e inchefroo incn tw m a o hst across leavind ,an g between them interspaces also varying considerabl sizen yi , som whicf eo h show smal beed lha n knob t i intende f i ss ;a d to cut with a all these interspaces, so as to cover them with a series of small knobs, corresponding to those on the first described class of ornamented balls. It appears to be forme a cla f yo d ston r slato e e stonet I . measures 2|- inches in diameter, and weighs 18J presente s ounces wa Museue d th an ,o d t m r John 186i M ny 4 b Begg, Lochnagar Dis- ,,, ,. , , . „ „ , tillery. (See woodcut.) Ston e BalD l found at Ballater, J x ' • Aberdeenshire. (8.) Migvie, Tarland, Aberdeenshire (with 6 discs).—This stone presentes bal Museuwa e l th o t d r m187n i M y 2b Jeffrey, schoolmaster there. It is formed of reddish syenitic-like rock, and has six circular discs cut on its surface, each about 1J inch across, the ball itself measuring 2-£ inches in diameter. It weighs 13f ounces founs wa t Migvieda surfacs fullt it I d . an e, appears to be considerably worn.

(9.) Dumfriesshire (witli 6 discs).—A stone ball in the Museum, to which it was presented e latth e y Jameb s Brown, Esq., Edmonston, Biggar, is stated by Dr D. Wilson to have been foun d Bomaol y d e neawa nth e lin f th ro e which runs through Dumfriesshire on its northern course from Carlisle. s formei t I • d. 1 Stone Ball found in ofelspathia f c greenstone divides i d an , d into Dumfriesshire. x nearlsi y regular circular a littldiscs e eon , larger than the others, which are separated by grooves and angular interspaces slightly sunk into its surface. It measures 2| inche e circlen diameteri sth f o s measuree on ; s othere Ifth , s about 1-f inch across. It weighs 17| ounces full. (See the annexed figure.) 1 Prehist. Annals'of Scot. p. 138. NOTE SMALF SO L ORNAMENTED STON7 3 E BALLS.

(10.) MountUairy, Ban/shire1 (with 6 discs).—A stone ball of green- stone or trap, which has six projecting circular unornamented discs, about If inch in diameter, but varying slightly in size. It measures 3 inche diametern si weighd an , founs ounces8 s1 wa t Mountblairyd a t I . , Banffshire, and was presented to the Museum by Mrs Morison of Bognie, Decemben i r 1864. (Se drawine eth g annexed.)

Stone Ball foun t Mountda - Stone Ball foun t Dudwickda , blairy, Bauffshire. Aberdeenshire.

(11.) Dudwidc, Alerdee-nshire (with 6 discs).—A spherical stone ball, displayin incisex gsi d circle n reliefsi , each rather rounde outlinn di s e(a shown in the annexed woodcut), was exhibited to the Society by Lieut.- Colonel W. Eoss King of Tertowio, F.S.A. Scot., in 1867, and is described and figure voln i d Proceedinge . viiith f o . e Societyth f o s . 102p , . Col. Eoss King informs me that it measures 9| inches in circumference, weigh Ib1 s . 5 ounces avoirdupois s formei d an d, eithe f greenstoneo r , or fine dar e plougk th granites turney b wa h estate p t odu I th n . f eo Dudwick, in Aberdeenshire. (See the annexed figure.) (12.) Parft, Aberdeenshire (wiih discs).—6 A beautifully formed stone ball covered wit x circulahsi r facets, slightly indicate y narrodb w lines or rather grooves d slightlan , y depressed angular spaces left between each of the three adjoining circles. It is the property of our Vice- President, Sir Noel Paton, U.S.A., F.S.A. Scot., who has kindly sent requesty m t a ,t i along wit e fouhth r other specimens fros latmhi e father's collection at Dunferrnline, now exhibited to the Society. This 1 Proc. Soo. Antiq. Scot. vol. vi. p. 11. 38. PROCEEDING SOCIETYTHE SOF , DECEMBE 1874R14, .

bal s formei l a 'dark-coloure f o d d stone lik a fine-grainee .sandd fe d - years• w o s when'drainfounfe ag 'wa stonea dt I . s were being'cut near the Louh of 'Park, Aberdeenshire. The circles are- placed as in sonie of the other balls in a regular order; orio circle is directly opposed to another a ban d f foudo an , r other circle e spacth s p fileu lbetwee n these two as it were polar circles. It measures 2^ inches in diameter, ancirclex si d s eacit s f abouho t If t weighi inch d ouncesan 6 , s1 .

(13.) Paton Collection, DunfermKne, Fife (witJt 6 discs).— Another stone bal thif lo s collectiosurfaces it circlex n projectind si o t s an , sncu ha g like distinct bosses abou t incn a J h fro e e groovedeptth mth f o h s around them. These bosses are plain or unornamented, and are rather rounded in outline. The ball appears to be formed of a finer,'more crystalline like rock, somewhat like clayston r slateo et measure I . s3 inches in diameter, each of the circles measuring about If inch across, and weighs 20J ounces.

(14.) Paton Collection, DunfermKne, Fife (with 6 discs).— The last of the stone balls of this collection is more ornamented in character. t displayI roundex ssi d circles likformere eth , placed regularly roune dth ball, and leaving intervening spaces of £ of an inch in breadth between, each circle. The circles.measure each about 1J inch across, and they pro- ject abou inchn a t f ^o . Thre f theo e m hav rounea d pit othere ,th sa small projection in the centre, and two concentric circles or grooves are cut round it on their surfaces, making them thus slope gradually down at their margins, towards'the general- surface of the'ball. The angular spaces between the circles are all dotted over with small depressions, giving thus a finished appearance to its ornamental character. This ball appear e composeb o st a hornblende-lik f o d e schis r slate o td lik an e, most of the others, especially those formed of clay-slate, its surface has become of a uniform black colour, probably caused by being much handled; it .is heavy for its size; and, like the others, rather soft in character t measureI . s 2| inche n diameteri s weighd an , ounces6 1 s . (See figur , Plat2 e ) eI.

(15.).Parish of Urquhart, Morayshire (with 6 discs).— A stone ball wit projectinh6 g circular knob f discsr theso o l mal , unornamentedd an , 1 NOTE SMALF SO L ORNAMENTED STON9 3 E . BALLS.

each measuring 1J inch across, found nea a stonr e e pariscirclth n hei of TJrquhart, was exhibited at Aberdeen in 1859 by Alexander Young of Fleurs formeds i , Esqt I . , like e otherssomth syenita f eo f o , finer eo - grained stone of minute crystals of hornblende and felspar. The discs project abou tinc n Ja r h froe balle masth mth . f . Howde o C s D. J r n of Montrose has sent me .a sketch and description of this stone ball, which is.now preserved at Eleurs. Each of the discs are slightly rounde n characteri e dgroov th d e an ,runnin g round the s mi abou t n inca hf o e •Eevfdeep Th . ..J "M. Joass also sene detailm t f o s this stone ball. He tells me the Eev. Dr. Gordon of Birnie considers it to be made of the same stone as the knobbed one found at Main, now in the Elgin Museum.. It measures 3 inches in diameter, 9 inches in girth weighd an , Ib1 s . . 1Joz

(16.) Old Deer, Aberdeenshire (with 6 discs). —In February 1874, William Eerguson f Kinmundyo , , Esq., F.S.A. Scot.,1 rea communia d - e Societcatioth o nt y giving detail variouf so s stone weapons, &c., which he exhibited. Among these was a stone ball, found in a cairn at the parish of Old Deer, Aberdeenshire, which, is now in the possession of James Cooper, Esq. , x circulasi M.D. Deerd e bals Ol Th ha ,lr . discs deepl s surface it d regularle disc yan n th d eac o s suri f s an t o , h - cu y rounded by concentric lines; their surfaces being also covered with incised lines crossing them diagonally t measureI . inches3 diametern si , Mr Eerguson informs me, weighs 1^ Ibs., and is formed of a heavy close- grained dark-coloured stone, with grey streak, probably hornblende schist.

• (17.) J3iickJw.il, Glen Muiclc, Aberdeenshire (with discs).—6 This stone ball, for a note of which I am indebted to the Eev. Dr J. M. Joass, Golspie, is in the possession of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, at Balmoral Castle. Dr Andrew Kobertson sends the following account of it to Mr Joass :— " This ball was found upon the property of Buckhall, near the Linn of Muick, in 1858. It was discovered by labourers employed in forming a new road, embedded in black mould, about 3 feet under the surface. The mould was contained in a scooped-out hollow in the rock, from 6 to Proc. Soc. Antiq. Soot . 507. p vol . .x . 0 4 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , DECEMBE , 1874R14 .•

7 feet in length by about 3 feet in width, having much the appearance of a grave, but no bones or indications of its having been a place of sepulture were observed." bale neatl"s i lTh y carve shewd dan versa y regular shape. There ear circulax si r bosses raised abov surface globee eth th f eo ; the arrangee yar d like the faces of a dice, and altogether this ball might be described as being like a dice, in which all lines and surfaces are circular. The ball is formed apparentl serpentinf yo e rock measured ,an | inches2 diameter.n si " It is of much interest, from having been found in what might appa- rently have bee ancienn a n t grave t I correspond. s closel characten yi r with other stone balls already described, as that found in Dumfriesshire, and another found at Dudwick, Aberdeenshire, of which figures are already given.

(18.) Cairn Robin, Kincardimshire (with discs).—6 A stone s balwa l preserve museue th e lat n th di e f m o Alexande r Thomson f Banchoryo , , Esq .als s Iotwa exhibite t Aberdeeda 1859n i , along with several other specimens which I have described. It has six ornamented discs or pro- jections fro surfaces mit , each measurin incheg2 s acros t thess ;bu e discs, instead of being rounded in outline, as is generally the case, were each cut int oseriea concentrif so c circles, surroundin gcentraa l small rounded projection, and in this way each disc was cut as it were into a series of three concentric steps or stages, increasing thus in size towards the circumferenc e circulath f o e r disc t I correspond. s f somewhao e on o t t the balls already described and figured (Plate I. figure 2), the property of r NoeSi l Paton apparentls e balTh wa l . y forme a tra igneour f o po d s rock. It was found in Cairn Kobin, parish of Banchory-Devenick, Kincardineshire, in 1854, and was presented to Mr Thomson by Mr John MacDonald. It is now preserved in the Museum of the Free Church Colleg t Aberdeena e o whict , r ThomsoM h n bequeathes hi d collection. This ball is accurately cut, and though now much time-worn, t showsi patchey b ,originas it f so l surface still remaining, that when per- probabls fecwa t i t y beautifully polished t I measure. inche3 s dian si - meter, and weighs 16-J- ounces. I am indebted to Mr William Beveridge, Curato e Museumth f o rr sketchefo , d detailean s d description f thio s s stone ball, and also of a polished ball to be afterwards described. • NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 41

(19.) Glasterlaw, Friockheim, Forfarshire (with discs).—6 . C Dr. J Howden, Sunnyside, Montrose, gives me details of a stone ball found at Glasterlaw, near Friockheim and kindly sent me a careful sketch of it. It is ornamented with six circular discs, which are plain or unorna- inented, and are rounded in outline, rising slightly above the general surface of the ball, and leaving considerable plain spaces between each. The ball measures 2^ inches in diameter, the average diameter of the circular facets being 1^ inch, and it weighs 17f ounces.

(20.) Biggar, Lanarkshire (with 6 discs).—"A stone ball of spherical form, having six regularly arranged circles in relief, presenting intervening spaces, givinaspecn a f t remarkablgi o t e beauty t I wa.s founn i d Biggar Parish." This description is published, along with a figure of the ball, showing the circles unornamented projecting slightly from the surface of the ball, and leaving somewhat angular depressed spaces between each, in a series of papers on "Lanarkshire Antiquities," in the Journal of the British Archaeological Association, vol. xvii. 1861, p. 20. The ball was then in the collection of the late Mr Adam Sim, F.S.A. Scot., Cultermains, Lanarkshire Williar M . m Hunter interestins hi n i , g work, entitled e Hous"Biggath Fleming,f d eo an r " Edinburgh, 1867, refers to these stone balls, and figures this one, which has six plain or unorna- mented projecting circular discs. He states that it was found at Big- gar Shields. This stone inchebal3 s i ldia n i s - meter, the circular discs measuring If- inches across.

(21.) Muclde Geddes, Nairn (with six discs).—In the Museum of Nairn, e . EevJoasth M . s.J also informs Carved Stone foun t Mucklda e me, there is a stone ball which was Geddes, Nairn. presente r GrigorD y b d, F.S.A. Scot boar'A . bale sth ltus d werkan e foun fiela t Muckln a di e Geddes 42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 1874.

nea half-demolishera d abou yard0 40 t s south fro publie mth c road. formes i t I quartzitef do rathes i d r,an irregula shapen ri , hayin largo gtw e discs opposite each other, and four slightly smaller ones, one being oval, the others rudely circular, projecting fro s surfacmit e between them t looksI . , Mr Joass says, like the nave of a with four shortly truncated .spokes. r It measures 2T ¥ x 2^- x 2~ inches, and weighs 11-| ounces. indebtem a e Rev I th •. . MJ .o d t .e accompanyinJoasth r fo s g sketch and the details of this curiously cut stone.

(22.) Thurso, (with discs).—6 A stone ball t symmetricallcu , y int projectinx osi g bosse discsr so founs wa , d man Thurse th y n yeari oo sag preserves wa river d an d, e lat"bEoberr yth eM t Dickw ,no F.G.Ss i t I . in the Thurso Museum. The bosses are plain or unornamented, and projeco t s a deeplo t s considerabl t ycu y abov s surfaceeit ; the eace yar h slightly surfacee conve s formed—thth i t n I o x. e . JoassRevM . o .t J , whom I am indebted for a sketch and description of the ball, informs me —o calcareoua f s sandstone from the lowe flagstonr bedthe of s e seriesof e middlth d BeOl de Sandstone, whic s founi h d clos o Thursot e d an , abounds a few miles to the westward. The ball measures 2| inches in diameter, and weighs 17 ounces.

(23.) Kilpheadar, Kildonan, .(-with discs).—6 The Eev. .J M. Joass, LL.D., Golspie, also senda beautifu e m s l sketc a ston f ho e ball with six projecting circles; these, however, are in such relief as to form bosses, giving it almost the appearance of a. cluster of balls. It is formed of the native sandstone which occurs in the middle oolite of East Sutherland, and was found in 1870, Mr Joass informs me, in trenching at Kilpheadar, in the parish of Kildonan, near some faint traces of a build- ing said to be those of a chapel dedicated to St Peter (GUI' PJieadair). Half-a-mile straight up the hill, at the base of which the ball was found, is the Broch of Kilpheadar; near this is a -circle with underground or eirde-house attached e intermediatth d an , e slop s studded.witi e h burial r JoasM .s saye stonth s e ball t believebelone e w ,no th d o gt di , era of the old chapel, but probably to the earlier remains which cluster l arounal localitye dth . (See Plate I., fig) .3. NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 43

It is now preserved in the Duke of Sutherland's Museum at Dunrobin Castle. It measures 2|- inches in diameter, and weighs 8| ounces.'

(24.) Kingussie, Inverness-shire (with 4 discs).—There is now in the possessio f Clunno y Macpherson f Cluno , y Castle stona , e ball with four projecting circular discs, whic s founhwa d some thirty years agoe ,th Rev. J. M. Joass informs me, by Mr M'Pherson, late postmaster, King- ussie, when digging in his garden. Cluny Macpherson politely informs me that the "ball has four pro- jecting circular discs, the cutting between them being prettily engraved, the discs being ornamented." It measures 8J inches in circumference, and appears to be formed of a rock resembling basalt, and weighs rather more than a pound.

(25.) .East Braikie, Forfarshire (with discs).—4 Another stone ballt ,bu beautifully cut and smoothed, is now preserved in the Montrose Museum; it shows four circular discs projecting slightly from its surface, the inter- vening spaces being smooth. It was~ found in a cairn at East Braikie. This bal s formeli d -oclose-grainea f d tra metamorphoser po d sandstone. It measures rather more than 2^ inches in diameter, the diameter of each disc bein inchesg2 , excep whice on incn t s ^ta hi f ht hi o Jess d an , weighs 15 J ounces. indebtem a r Jame I D . o Howdedt sC f Montroso n r thesfo e e details. wae H s also polite enoug perusay seno m ht r Directorse dfo th l ' Eeport for 186e " th Montros f 7o e Natural Histor Antiquariad yan n Society," where this ball is figured and shortly described.

(26.) Towie, Aberdeenshire (with 4 discs).—In May 1860 a beautifully ornamented stone ball was presented to the Museum of the Society by Mr James Kesson, Upper Drummellachy. throug e Bevth h . John Christie of Kildrummy. It.was found several feet nnder ground when digginga drain on the Glas (or Grey) Hill, in the parish of Towie, Aberdeenshire. This bals fouha lr rounded circular projection s surfaceit n o s . Three of these discs are covered with different patterns of spiral, zig-zag, and parallel incised lines, som f theo e m suggestin linee style th th gsf eo humae frone oth nth f o tn thumb dise cTh .mos t elaborately ornamented 44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 1874.

slightls i y larger thaothee th n r three, whicf o aboue e har on sizea td an , these is quite plain or unornamented. The largest measures about 2 inches across. Between this more elaborately ornamentee th d disd an c othe ornamenteo tw r d triangulae onesth n i , r space left between theme w ,

Stone Ball found in the Glas Hill, Parish of Towie, Aberdeensliire.

find three small dots or depressions cut in the stone. They are arranged triangulaa n i r manner t leasa d t an ,sugges similaa t r arrangemen thesf o t e

Pennanular King of Silver Chain found at Parkhill, Aberdeenshire.

d sculptureol thre e somen th o dot f t do e scu stone r crosseo s s founn di Scotland alsy o ma remin I ; thau fine yo w ddt these triplee dotth n si concav ee doublsideth f o sy bent e so-callefigureth f o , e dwhicon s i h NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE HALLS. 45

symbols of the " Sculptured Stones of Scotland," at least they are cut in this relatio large th en no silve r clas r largpo e ancien th rin f o g t silver chai plaif no n rings foun t Parkhillda , Aberdeenshire preservew no , n i d our Museum, which I have described in the paper " on Ancient Silver Chains."1 Indeed, on this large ring the figure of these triangularly arranged dots is repeated no less than three times. (See woodcuts). The presence of this triangular group of dots would seem to suggest a relation so far, between this ball, the silver chains, and the " Sculptured Stones Scotland.f o , " This bal formes i l fine-grainea f do d clay-slate, blac colourn ki , witha white streak when cut. It appears to be one of the most elaborately ornamented specimens that has yet been described. It measures nearly 3 inches in diameter, and weighs 18J ounces.2

(27.) Elgin, MoraysMre (with 4 discs.)—The Rev. J. M. Joass tells me he is informed by the Eev. Dr Gordon, Birnie, that in the possession of Mrs Leslie, West Eoad, Elgin, there is a remarkable specimen of a stone bee s balls histor t knownha It n possese t . no i lon th t s yi n gi bu ; - r familysiohe f no . Throug kindnese hth r Secretary ou f so r r TaylorStuartD D , d f an o , Elgin, I have since been able to get this ball for examination, and a cast e t Museumwilo i ftakee th b lr nt fo I closel . y resemble n charactei s r the ball found at Towio, just described, having four projecting bosses, each measuring 2-^ inches in diameter; one of these bosses is also carved with figures forme f inciseo d d lines, forming alternate voluter so spiral figures; the commencemen f similao t r figure s seei sanothen o n r of the bosses, and the rest are unornamented. It has been suggested that the commencement of some of the curved lines on this ball resembled the heaserpent—thata f do fact n i ,linee th , s might represent serpents curled together n comparingO . , however e ornamentatioth , n withe th tha f o t Towie ball, it would appear that this fancied resemblance has been simply caused by the being pushed through the loop connecting the spirals together, dividing the thin mi st apparentl wayno t ,bu y wit inteny han - tio f finishinno g them with kind y Joasr headan M f .s o s says—"Judging 1 Proc. Soe. Antiq. Scot. vol. x. p. 330. 2 Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. iii . 439.p . 6 4 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , DECEMBE , 1874R14 .

from the unfinished volute on one of the bosses, I should think that the artist must have been working fros hea ide hi n fromr a do n a i m memory, and not from a copy, as he has evidently not been thinking of the incised lines as a copyist would, but of the ridge between them, which, from the two lines stopping together e seemh , o havt s e intende o carrt d y round round an lons da thes g a bose - th siz sf ewoulo d permit, i.e., til touchee lh d s nearesit facet o unornamented.e edgear sTw . onle th ys i specime t I " n known which corresponds to the Towie ball in its style and ornamentation. .The bal s i formel a har f o d black argillaceous rock, which, when touched wit knifee hth , show sa ligh t grey streak t blackenbu , beinn so g wetted, like clay-slate t measureI . | 2 inches diametern i s , and weighs 18J ounces. (See figure 4, Plate I.)

(28.) Perth Museum, Perthshire (with discs.)—4 Museue Inth e th f mo Literar Antiquariad yan n Societ f Pertyo h three ornamented stone balls are preserved. Through the kindness of a friend in Perth and the courtesy of .John Bower, Esq., M.D. Secretare , th Societye th f n yo a I ,hav d eha opportunity of examining these specimens. They are all similar in the general characte f theio r r ornamentation, each havin thein gdisco 4 t r scu surface. One of these discs is slightly larger than the others, and if we place the ball with this larger disc below, the other three rise up from t ove i bale th rl toward tope sth , leavin gtriangulaa r space between them ; in this way bearing a somewhat general resemblance to the arrangement of the leaves of an unexpanded bud of a plant. One of these stone balls has the discs plain ; but the others are ornamental in character. From their general resemblance, it is probable they may belong to same th e distric countryf o t , -probabl e largyth e count f Perthyo , though apparently nothin knownow recordeor g nis localitiethe of d whicsin h they were found. Professor Wilson, however, when referring to these ston s e"Prehistori hi ball n i s c Annals," vol , statei. . s that "several decorated examples, dredged up in the Tay, are preserved in the Perth Museum, . 195"p I shal. l first describ unornamentee eth d ball. A stone ball, globular in form, with its surface divided into four unornamented discs projecting slightly from its surface ; it is not regularly circular in form, and the discs are rather oval than circular in outline. The larger disc measure inches2 lengtn si breadthn hi | by1 otherse ;th , NOTE SMALF SO L ORNAMENTED STON7 4 E BALLS.

slightly smaller, risp ratheu e r unsymmetrically ove balle th r , leaving triangular spaces between each e wholth , e being gently roundede Th . ball measures 2-| inches in greatest, diameter. It is formed of a fine- grained rather soft sandstone or clay-slate, with some parallel veins of quartz running through it, and weighs 13 ounces.

(29.) Perth Museum, Perthshire (with 4 discs).— This stone bals i l similar in character, but more circular in form. It is ornamented in e samy witth wa 4 disceh s which project more abruptly fros it m surface, hut these 'discs are covered with patterns of incised lines crossin e anotheon g r diagonally e dis s on i apparentlc, y unfinished, and show a patters f paralleno l lines covering onls sur it a pary f -o t face. The triangular interspaces between the circles are plain or unorna- mented, with the exception of one, which is slightly pitted over its surface e largeTh .r circle measures 2-J inche n diameteri s e otherth , s are very slightly less. This bal coarses i l charactern i r appeard e ,an b o st formed of a reddish coloured stone, from the presence of oxide of iron; it is probabl ymuca h weathered sandstone or perhaps greenstone. This stone ball measures 2f inche greatesn si t diameter weighd an , s nearl ounces8 y1 .

(30.) Perth Museum, Perthshire (with 4 discs).—The third ball is also of a similar pattern, but it is formed of a finer grained stone, and is more carefully ornamented. It has four circular discs, the principal or large one measuring 2-J inches across, the others about -J part less. The cir- cula rl ornamentediscal e sar d with incised lines, crossin diagonallye gon , sharp-pointea y b t cu af si d tool intervenine th ; g knobs being larged ran more projectinge principath n O l. disc these knobs Lave again been cut by a sharp-pointed instrument into a more rounded character than the others. Incised circles are also cut partially round the discs, and the intervening triangular space e coverear s d with incised pattern f conso - verging lines. (See figure 5, Plate I.) s ornamentatioe it styl f Th o e n remind strongle m s e th f tha yo f o t thistle-like e largheadth f eo s silver brooche d pinan ss found with Anglo-Saxon and Cufic coins of the tenth century, on the shore of the ba f Skaillyo , paris f Sanclwickho , Orkney preservew Museumno ;e th n di . (See'the annexe f theso d e figure on brooches. f o e e bul s formeTh i l ) f do 48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 1874. a fine-grained clay-slate; it measures 2| inches in diameter, and weighs 15^ ounces. Another stone ball, probably resembling these stone balls at Perth, with projectins it g discs apparentl- ar o s y ranged rounto a dcentraas one l sugges ide e flowea tth f ao bud,wa r ro s found in the adjoining county of Fife.

(31.) Clachard, Newburgh, Fife.— Mr Alexander Laing, F.S.A. Scot., Newburgh, has kindly sent me a proof-sheet of his forthcoming volume, ' ' Lindores Abbey ans Burgit d f ho Newburgh, their Histor Annals,d yan " giving some details of an orna- mented stone ball, whic founhwas d in the old British camp or fort, with stonits e enclosing rampartsthe on , picturesque craig of Clachard (the stone point or craig) which almost overhang e ruinth sf o Lindores s Abbey. Mr Laing says—" The ball found at Clachard was of hard sand- stone, and about the size of an orange, elaborately carved in relief, leaves being represented as springing from the stalk, and covering the lower half of the sphere." "This ball passed inte e Revhandth th o . of .s Dr Anderso f Newburghno s wa t bu , Bulbous Hing-Brooch, found at Skaill s collectiot ,founhi no n i d n aftes hi r with ornament on the reverse of the bulbs. (Th ebrooce rinth f g o s h 5i J death." inche diameter.n si ) t appearI me,,froo st m this descrip- tion, that this d beebalha ln pro- bably somewhat allied, in the character of its ornamentation, to those just described froe Pertmth h Museum t i reall s a , y doe t requirno s ea NOTE SMALF SO L ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 49

great strength of imagination to describe the projecting discs as leaves, covering mor lesr surface eo balle sth th f . o e hopede b o t ,s i however t stilI y tracee lb compare d ma t d,an i d wite hth other ornamented stone balls foun Scotlandn di .

(33.) Tullo of Garvock, Kincardineshire (icith 3 discs.)—A stone bal l e Museuith n t mMoiitrosa Tulle s founth Garvockf owa eo a o d , Kincardineshire ver1854s n i i , t yI roug. quitd han e unpolisheds i d an , divided into three lobes r roundeo d discs, which project fro s surfacemit , grooves of considerable depth being cut around them. The stone is apparentl rough-graineya d tra graniter po t froe weatherebu , mth d an d altered surfaces statit f difficuls i eo t i , knoo t t w with certainty whas i t i t compose t measureI . dof s about 3J inches in diameter d weighan , 0 s2 ounces. I am indebted for these details to James C. Howden, Esq., M.D., Montrose alss ha o o kindlwh , y supplie e witm d h note d sketchean s f o s various stone balls, now described.

There is still another variety of these stone balls, which may, perhaps, be added as a third class to those I have now described; I refer to globu- lar stone balls of a nearly similar size, which have been carefully smoothed or polished over their surface. It is not impossible that some of these rounde smoothed dan d stone balls may, indeed, really belonsame th eo gt e simple othersn unfinishear clasth a t s n a ysi bu , d state e cuttinth ; g and ornamenting of the surface of the ball following naturally after its being first cut and smoothed into the usual rounded form. Indeed some d ornamentean t cu e doth f stone balls s thaa , t foun t Caira d n Eobin, Kincardineshire, show trace f thio s s polished surface still remaininn go the ball.

///. Stone Bolls oarefiMy smoothed polishedr o over their whole surface. Museue th Societe (1. n th I )f mo y ther smala s ei l stone ball havins git whole surface carefully smoothed. Unfortunatel histors y it t known no s yi . This ball is formed apparently of limestone (magnesian limestone?); it measures 2-| inche diametern si weighd an , ounce8 1 s s full. VOL. XI. PART I. D 0 5 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , DECEMBE , 1874R14 .

(2.) Orkney.—Another example of a fine polished small stone ball is, I understand, in the possession of George Petrie, Esq., Corresponding Member S.A. Scot. It appears to be formed of a stone resembling flint, and was found somewhere in Orkney, but I have not been able to ascer- tai historys nit .

(3.) Gflenquicken, Kirlcmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire.—In the " New Statistical Accoun Scotland,f o t Eeve th ". John accouns Muirhi n i ,f o t the Parish of Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire, tells us that—" About the year 1809, Mr M'Lean of Mark, while improving a field in the moor of Glenquicken, in Kirkmabreck parish, found it necessary to remove a large cairn, which is said by tradition to have been the tomb of a king of Scotland, who is not in the genuine series—Aldus, M'Galdus, M'Gillus, or M'Gill. When the cairn had been removed, the workmen came to a stone coffi f vero n y rude workmanship, andremovinn o , e lidgth , they found the skeleton of a man of uncommon size, .... There was also found with this skeleton a ball of flint about 3 inches in diameter, which was perfectly polishedn arrowe heaa th f do d , thaalsan s , flintf oo wa t , but not a particle of any metallic substance was found."1 This notic s einterestini s showina g ga polishe d variety apparentlf yo these same stone balls, found in a cairn, if not in the itself, beside a skeleton, which appear havo t s e bee casee nth . Fro viee mth w I tak f eo comparativele th y recent characte e otheth f ro r stone balls I woul, e db incline believo dt e this caird alsha no t belongeverno y a remoto t d e period. .

(4.) Hill f Tillyo g'rieg, Aberdeenshire.—There'is preservew no e th dn i Museum of the Free Church College of Aberdeen a specimen of a plain or unornamented stone ball ,alse b whic oy includema h thin di s class of unornamented balls s surfaceit ; , however t polishedno s i , , but some- what decomposed with age and weathering. It belonged to the private museum of the late Mr Thomson of Banchory, which he bequeathed :to the 'College. The ball was discovered on the hill of Tillygreig, in •the parish of Udny, Aberdeenshire, in 1854; it was then presented to Mr Captain Dennistoun' sTrai. lette Mr f Newton-Stewart no o rt , date Octobed 22 d r 1 1819. ; NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 51

Thomson by Arthur Harvey, Esq. It is formed apparently of greenstone, measures 2|- inches in diameter, and weighs 14 ounces. I am indebted for these particulars and sketches of the ball to the politeness of Mr William Beveridge, the curator of the Museum of the Free Church Colleg f Aberdeeneo .

(5.) Cochno, Dumbartonshire.—Professor Daniel Wilson s " hi Pre n i ,- historic Annals of Scotland," vol. i. 1863, states, that "two stone halls were shown me in 1850, as a part of the contents of a cist recently opened in the course of farming operations on the estate of Cochno, Dumbarton- shire, one of which was made of highly polished red granite, a species of rock unknown in that district."

As far as I am aware, these stone balls have as yet been noticed only in Scotland, with one single exception, found in Ireland, to which I shall also refer. This ball is now preserved in the British Museum. IRELAND. Ballyrnena, Antrim*. Co (with circular6 discs.)— . FranksA.W , Esq., Britise &c.th f o ,h Museum, exhibited this ornamented stonee balth t a l meeting of the Archaeological Institute, in December 1853, and the fol- lowing notice of it is published in their Journal:—" A singular stone balfouns lwa t Ballymena da . Antrim preservew Co , no n 1850s i ,i d an , in the British Museum. The material of which it is composed is the hornblende schist of geologists. This object presents six circular faces, which hav considerablea e projection placee ar t d uniforda an , m distances, s diameteIt f inches.2 s ri "

IV. Tht>, Age and Use of the Ornamented Stone Balls. John Evans, Esq.s valuablhi n i , e wor "Thn ko e Ancient Ston- Im e plements, &c. f Greao , t Britain" (London, 1872), describes these stone balls in his chapter on " SLING STONES AND BALLS." He refers to the specimen r Museumou n si gived themf an , o s describn I o figure. tw f o -s ing what he considers the most remarkable of them all, the ornamented stone ball found at Towie, Aberdeenshire, he says— .' Archaeological Journal. 58 ,. p vol . xi . 52 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 1874. " Fro e charactemth patternse th f o r , this object would see belonmo t g to 'the Bronze Period, rather than to the Stone." Mr Evans gives an excellent summary of the different uses which have been suggested for these I cannohalls d betteo an ,d t r than quot e greateth e r t i par f o t here.— "These balls," Mr Evans says, " appear to me to differ most essentially from the ordinary sink stones found ,in Denmark and Ireland, with which they have been'compared. It is not, however, by any means easy to suggest the purpose for which they were intended. The only sugges- tions tha I havt e seen are—that they were use n somdi e gam amuser eo - ment,1 or for defence when strung on a long thong or line, or else for purpose f divination.o s I mus2 t confess tha I n hardlwhati e tse y manner the last purpose can have been served, especially as in most instances all the faces of the ball are alike. Nor do I see in what manner they can have been used in games, though, of course, .such a use is possible. It seems more probable that they were intended for use in the wher chaswa n r o eattache thonga o dt , whic e recessehth s betweee nth circles seem well adapte receiveo dt . Among savage nation e preth -f so e bolas, e finth e us f w r th stonedseno eo y f o da t sd attacheen e th o dt thongs, over great part of the southern continent of America]3 while the principle is known to the Esquimaux, whose strings of sinew, weighted with bunches of ivory knobs, are arranged to wind themselves round the. bird at which they are thrown, in just the same way as the much stouter cords, weighted at the ends with two or three heavy stone balls, which for e bolas,mth twist round d hampean , e movementth r largef so r game." After describing the bolas, &c., more particularly, Mr Evans continues— "Assumin gdifficulta securinn yi balga f stonleatheo a l n i e r case, arid that, therefore t wouli , e necessardb meanfasteo y y t thongb a f t i no s , some channeling of the surface would become a necessity, and the natural tendenc f savageo y o decoratt s e their weapons might lea o regulat d r •circular discs iDeing left betwee e channel nth e ball d eveth an ,n o s to their being engrave n patternsi d side th ,e nex e corth td n beini s g[a the Towie specimen] left undecorated. In the Christy collection is a

1 Report, Montrose N Ant.d Han .. Soc. 1868. 8 Arch. Assoc. Joiirn. vol. . xvii20 . p . s Tylor, " Early Hist, of Hank," r-179- NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 53

bola forme polishea f do d spherica stoned re l , mounte sucn di hmannea r as to show a considerable portion of its surface, which has evidently been regarde handsomo to s entirelde a b o et y conceale leathere th y db . These stone sometimee sar s wroughpreseno t s a o numbea ts t f roundeo r d pro- tuberances thesf O .e ther e specimenear e Christth n i s y collectiod nan in that of Mr J. Bernhard Smith. Even if the use of the bolas or the single lola were unknown," Mr Evans tells us, "a lola of small size, cast of lead or copper, with a single thong, about 3 feet long, forms both the s s alsi stoneit slino d d usean a ,weapogan s a d r strikinfo n n closgi e encounters. There is a form of military flail or 'morning star,' a-sort of modification of the staff-sling, though the stone never quits the cord by which it is attached to the staff, for which such balls as these might serve." Mr Evans then refers to various weapons, such as the flail of Gog and MagoLondoe th t ga u Guildhall othero t d san , describe Squiey db d an r Davi n theii s r "Ancient Monument Mississippe th f o s i Valley,e th s "a pogamoggan Chippewayse th f o woodea , n handle inche2 2 , s long, covered with leather, with a thong 2 inches in length, which has attached to it a stone about 2 Ibs weight. "Another for club,f mo Evanr "M s says, "ie amonnus e Algongth - quins, consiste rouna f o dd boulder sewa piec n f fresni o e h skind an , attached to the end of a long handle, to which, by the dryiug of the skin, it became firmly attached. An engraving of a drumstick-like club of this characte gives i r Schoolcraft.y nb 1 Unfortunately, however existence th , e of such a weapon in early times is not susceptible of proof. Whatever purpose th thesf eo e British ball f stoneso , they see belonmo t recena o gt t period, as compared with that to which many other stone antiquities may be assigned." Pp. 377-379. By the kindness of my friend, Dr Albert Giinther of the British Museum, I have been able to examine a set of the bolas given to him by a friend as a reminiscence of South American travel. It is formed of three stone balls, differing slightly in size and weight, each being enclosed in a tight-fitting leather bag, which is drawn together round the mouth by a leather thong. These balls have attached to them plaited leather thong f slightlso y different lengths, whic e alsar ho tied togethe t theia r r opposite extremities. In usin bolase gballth e heavieste on ,, th , is taken ni 1 Fnflitm Tribes, vol . .pii . xv. 54 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 1874.

e othe th meany handb e t ri th d ballf so swune an , sar g roun circla n di e until a considerable velocity is acquired, when the ball is thrown from the han definita dat e objec animal paror t togetherany t go tha so on , all t and , thonge oth f s strikin objece gth limbr animaln o a t f so balle th , t theisa r extremities, thus suddenly checked in their course, immediately swing round the part touched, stop the course of the animal.and throw it to e groundth ; whes immediateli t i n y seize e hunted bounth an dy b dr befor abls i extricato t t ei e itselfe largesTh . t stone bal thif o l s bulas measures 2J inches in diameter, and weighs 10J ounces. The second in nearlythe same, about 2| inches in diameter, and weighs 10 ounces full ; e thirdth r smallestd o , an , whic s mori h e egg-shaped, measures 1-f inch n diameteri d weighan , 6 ouncess . These sized weightsan s •f courseo , , include the tight leather case which nearly covers each ball. The plaited leather thongs which connect the balls together, also vary slightly in length from the centre knot, which ties them all together. That of the largest ball measures 3 feat 5| inches in length; the second, 3 feet 5 inches; and the third, or smallest, 3 feet 4^- inches in length. e knoW w nothiny similaan f go r apparatus being formerly usen i d Britain, though, strange to' say, the only other part of the world where a corresponding apparatus is used is in the distant northern country of Greenland, already referred to by Mr Evans. It consists of a bunch of pierced ivory knobs, like large rude beads, tied together by sinews, which Greenlandee th r uses approachin gfloca sea-fowlf ko n o , ,be seatedy ma t i , rocr o a ke ledgthrowe ic ;h t the a f eo s thet ma i s y rise centrifugae th , l flyine forcth f go e implement spreadballe th t s likou s echarga f shoto e , an t dstrikesi , entangles, and knocks down birdse somth f o ,e whice har immediatel stonythe fowlereseize the ball Had dby sI hav. e described been used like Mas,eth woule w d have expecte o havt d e found them 'occasionall threr o groupo n yei tw correspondin f so g balls; this, however, has.not been the• case s thea , y have been invariably found singlyd an , entirel awarem a y I apar ,s therevidenca o r tn fros fa otherei y s man A e ! eve suggeso nt t that suc n instrumena h e bolass eveth s wa ra t usey db anciene th f o ty inhabitantan f Britainso . No remains of any thong or handle has as yet been noticed as attached to, or even found near, any of these balls, though, of course, a piece of decayed leathe r stilo r l more decayed wood might have been easily over- .NOTES OK SMALL ORNAMENTKD STONE HALLS. 55

e lookeunskilleth y b d d discovere e stoneth f o ,r which fro peculias mit r form had attracted the finder's curiosity so as to make him take the trouble to preserve it. The absence of anything of this kind found with the balls may also suggest that, if they once had handles of any kind attached to them, these must have been formed of some material which had soon got weathered and decayed away altogether. t woulI d appear, therefore s mora , e probable stonthae on te s balwa l all that was required to complete the implement for use, and not two or three different balls like the bolas. On looking over the variety of specimens which I have now been able to gather together strucm a I ,k firs theiy b t r great general resemblancn ei size and weight, the stone of which they are formed being generally a heavy ,e samandth t e,a timea sof f to , though rather tough character.. From the altered, and generally much weathered character of these stone balls, some being also blackened over their surface, possibly by being much rubbehande almoss th i t y i ,db t impossibl ascertaio et actuae nth l stone of which each is composed, and, of course, you cannot spoil the specimen by breaking it, to decide the question. There seems, however, to be generally a considerable correspondence in mineralogical'character, as well as in size and weight, in the different specimens. Looking at the various way d n whicornamentedi s an t h cu the e yt ar i seem , t onca s e apparent they have been forme metaly b d , probably ironn o d an ; showing some of the more ornamented specimens to one of our most skilled lapidaries, he said the style of cutting looked wonderfully like what would be done with one of his own steel scolpers or gouges for lapidary work. stone Th et appea ballno o havso d rt e been forme rollinr dfo g about, some being symmetrical and others angular and unsymmetrical, and they show appearanco n havinf eo g been wor closea rollingy nb n o rt inspectionbu ; , • some do show a rubbed appearance on the sides of their discs or projections, af the si beed yha n worn e rubbintherth sofa y r leatheeb f o to g r thong. e variouTh s projecting knob r discs so d ornamentaan , l patternn o t cu s these balls, also suggest, at least, a fitness for allowing them to be attached firml havthongy a y ma eyb t beei , leatherf no handla o t , somf eo e kind, varyine th face f th o t gd sizan e discsomf eo th f seo themselves theid an , r relation to the others, as well as the unornamented character of some of 56 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 1874.

them, seem all to suggest additional facilities and advantages for a similar • • purpose • . I have already pointed out the presence of the triangular group of dots cut Towie onth e ston s resemblanceit balld an , n thii e s respece th o t t same triangular marking e sculpturen somo th s f eo d stone Scotlandf so , large th an en do penannula ancienre rinth f go t silver chains describey db me.1 Also the close correspondence, as it appears to me, of the orna- mentation on the stone balls in the Perth Museum, with that of the large thistle-like heads of the silver pins and brooches in the Museum, which Skaillf o wer y eba , founOrkneye th t da . Supposing these correspondences of ornament to be correct, we cannot but recollect that the age or period of sculpturee th d stones and silver chains belong Pictise thao th st f to h people from the sixth to the ninth centuries; while with the silver ornaments foun t Skailda l were also silver Cufic ninte coin Anglo-Saxoth d f hsan o n coins of the tenth century. Considerations such as these make me incline to the opinion that, instead of belonging to Stone or Bronze ages, or any such indefinite or ancient period, it was much more likely these curious stone balls might belong e ancientth o -t , though comparatively historic periode sculptureth f o s d stones, these silver chain d broochesan s d an , Cufi d Anglo-Saxoan c n coinse placeTh . s where som f theso e e stone balls have been foundr example founo undergrounn fo a tw s a n ,di e th , d dwelling at Skara, bay of Skaill, Orkney, or of that found at Kilpheadar n Sutherlandi , &c., seem als o telt o l agains y ide f theian o at r being relic vera f syo great antiquity. • I have looked in vain for any corroborative evidence on this subject from usagee th s detaile r earlou yn d i historica l periods allusionr o , earlr ou yn si literature, and telling our highly-valued curator, Mr Joseph Anderson, my e probablviewth f thesf o o s e ee ag ston e balls, askecoule h f di d -hele pm to any references or suggestive allusions in the writings of' these early periods. Mr Anderson has the excellent habit, which I myself have to a certain extent^ of jotting down in a common-place book any references to ancient customs, facts, or statements he -may come upon in the course of his reading, and think worth taking a note of. Accordingly,- he soon favoured me with what we both thought was a most apt and suggestive quotation, viz. :—That Willia Poictiersf mo s accoun hi Battle n th i , f f o teo 1 Proc. Soe. Antiq. Scot. . 321volp . x . NOTE SMALF SO L ORNAMENTED STON7 5 E BALLS.

Hastings, foughe 14tth hn o Octobet r 1066, whe e describenh mode sth e of fighting employe Saxon e e fielth battlef th y o ddb n so , says—" Jactant cuspides ac diversorum generum tela, ssevissimas quasque secures, et lignis itnposita Saxa: iis, veluti inole letifera, statini nostros obrui putares."1 Her have ew e several weapons referre e (cuspis),th , pointee dto th d or javelin; different kinds of darts or (telum); most cruel (securis); d lastlan y (lignis irnposita Saxa), stones imposedt , laidpu r o , upon wood. This last description seeme refeo t anythint o t r dno e th f go hammer kind, with e stonth , e simply pierced throug r attachinhfo e gth handle, but rather suggested some shaped stone, it may be like these stone balls which migh shora stoud f simple o b t an t p t to y e placeth n o d wooden handle, to which it could be easily fixed by thongs passed over the projecting surfaces of the stone ball itself. Fortunately, we have in our Museum a series of the large and beautiful facsimile coloured plates of the Bayeaux tapestry, which Mi Charles Stothard made at the request of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and Mr Anderson immediately searched them out to see what light these carefully-worked historical pictures, believed to have been made at a time not far distant from the events they pictorially commemorate, might kine thro th f weapon do n w o s use t thia d s great battl f Hastingseo d an , especially of these stone weapons referred -to. The sword and shield, the spea javelinr o r battle-axee dare arrowd th th , an td an , , were see t oncna e distinctivele tob y figured therd an , e then remained onl clube yth macer so s used by the Saxons, and probably by the bulk of their rank and file, if we may judge from their being generall hande e Saxonth th f n yi sfooto n so , as their only weapon, men with no other apparently offensive or defensive armour. The only corresponding weapon, then, to these " Saxa imposita lignis"e instance maceth on s n i i , e e hurle heaNormaa th f dt o da n no horseback in-plat en plat i xiv. d ee seriean xvi;have u th I f yo .s o a , have said, the Saxon people wholly unarmed, except with these maces in their hands e wondereb ,o t retreating t , beforno at d e mounte s i th e s a , d Norman chivalry encased from head to heel in helmet and chain mail, and armed with sword and spear and shield. The maces borne by these Saxons have their heads coloured red, or some paler colour, in the 1 Gesta Gtiillelmi Ducis Normannorum a Guillelmo Tictaviensi apud Du Oliesne Scriptores Normann, folio, Paris 1619, p. 201. 8 5 PHOC.EEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , DECEMBE , 1874R14 .

tapestry shapen i d "an ; they exactly correspon varietieo tw o t df thes o s e stone balls, each cut into six projecting knobs or circles, which I have already kine th showf ball do e b f whic so o n t h most .examples have been found. I have copie platee dth tapestrf so y referre (seo dt e Plate glanc a II.)d ,an e at them will show, I may say almost beyond a doubt, the exact corre- wit e spondence macothere on th hTh ee .head th f eo n the'tapestr i s y show four equally projecting rounded knobs or bosses, each about the same thicknes shafe th whic o thesf t s to attacheds a knobbe i x e et hsi i on f I d. balls, like those for example which I have figured found at Mountblairy or Thurso, was tied on the top of a short staff or handle of corresponding thicknesssizd ean resemblance ,th e woul complete db mace th eo e t throw n by a Saxon against a Norman knight in plate xiv. Or if we take the knobbed deeplan t ycu d ball foun t Kilpheadeda figured an r Platn di e I., and attach it to a handle, we have an exact representation of it in plate xyi. of the tapestry, where the Saxons on foot are represented as giving way before the Norman cavalry at the close of this hard-fought battle. These stone balls, in all their varieties, are therefore, in all probability, actually the stone heads of maces, which each man probably made and ornamented according to his own taste, and afterwards fastened to a stout and short cylindrical handle of wood, and had thus a most efficient weapo r defencnfo d offenceean . I may remind the Society that writers on Arms and Armour describe and even figure from the Bayeaux tapestry the Saxon maces of the battle of Hastings as having had iron heads corresponding to those of much later times—the iron-headed maces e morninth , g stars militard an , y flails of the fifteenth century; but for this there seems to be no authority what- ever. The Saxon mace of the common people consisted apparently of this stone hea wooded dan n handl unmistakablo es y figure described dan d in the nearly contemporary histories of this important battle. The Rev. John Collingwood Brace, LL.D., &c., in his interesting and valuable wor n "Tho k e Bayeaux Tapestry Elucidated" (London, 1856, 4to), figures the whole of the tapestry in a series of coloured plates. You can there, as in our large plates, see the whole series of weapons described as having been used by the combatants in the battle, alongside of Dr Bruce's learne d interestinan d g detailed descriptions. After describing the Norman'bow men, and the long Norman ; the short Saxon NOTES OF SMALL OKNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 59

javelins, and their large and heavy battle-axes, lie says—"The only other weapon that remain noticee b mace o th st r club es o di . coma This -swa paratively rude weapon, which ceased to be used as an instrument of offence after thi sbattle periodth t Hastingf eo A . t seemsi havo st e been used by the Saxons only. One is seen in the tapestry (plate xiv.), which has been thrown against the.advancin e e Normansg th th lin t f a o e d an , picture closth f e retreatineo th e g Saxon armee seeb e sar o n t d with this weapon only." (P. 107-8.) In some published works on arms and armour, we have these maces of battle th Hastingf eo Bayeaue th d san x tapestry figure described an d s da made of iron. Another variety of the mace, as it has been styled, figured tapestre th n i Normanse borns ya th y eb s alsi , o f assumeiroo ne ; b o t d it is apparently a long notched or lobed club.; one of these is borne by Odo Normae th , n Bisho f Bayeauxpo platn I . e xv., Odo Bishoe th , p of Bayeaux e inscriptioth s a , n informs i represente , us s s holdina d g a staff or club in his right hand, and encouraging his men, " Hie ODO EPISCOPUS TENENS BA.CULUM coNTOBTAT PDEEOS." Dr Bruce believes this to be a "badge of command—the marshall's baton, as it were,—and weapona t no s soma , e writers suppose. s appearancIt " s simpli e y that of a staff or branch of a tree, and not a regularly made mace. May this nosimple b t bishop'e yth s episcopal staff—the baculus, styled—s i t i s a a Scottish exampl f whicheo , consistin simpla f o g e staff e bougth a , f o h tree, it may be remembered, was long ago brought under our notice by Mr Cosmo Innes, in a paper on the Crozier of Saint Moluach, the pro- Duke pertth Argyllf f yeo o Societ;e reath o dt Decn yi . 1854Inner M .s tells us the hereditary custodians of this staff were' popularly known as the " Baron f Bachul,o s " " Bachul bein e Gaelith g c shap bacillus—f eo the episcopal staff." e translatioth n I Edgay b n r Taylor, Esq., F.S.A. f Masteo , r Wace's " Chronicle of the Norman Conquest," from the "Eoman de Ecu" (London, 1837), Wace states that he wrote the Chronicle in 1160. We have a description of the battle of Hastings, from which I only quote the follow- ing passage :—Normane "Th Englise assaulte sth th moved o t han , n o d defended themselves well. Some were striking, others urging onwards ; all were bold, and cast aside fear. 1 Proe. Sou. -Ant.. Scot .. 12p vol . . ii . 60 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 1874.

" And, Now, Behol Thad! t Battl gathereds ewa , Whereo Fame . Th f eis yet Mighty. "Loud and far resounded the bray of the horses, and the shocks of the lances, the mighty strokes of clubs, and the quick clashing of swords," P. 191. ' Her have w en enumeratio ea e weaponth f o n s used, includinl al n gi probabilty these stone-headed maces or clubs. looe w k f I into other ancient account e battlth f f Hastingsso eo n i s a , the " Lives of Edward the Confessor," edited by Henry Eichard Luard, M.A. published an J d unde e authoritth r Lorde th f yo s Commissionerf o s Her Majesty's Treasury, under the direction of the Master of the Eolls (London, 1858), you find" in the English translation from -the Norman- Frenc "Life t EdwarS th f f heo o Confessor,e dth followine "th g description of the battle of Hastings. I quote merely a few lines from No. 4565 :— "You. might heai'the lances shivering ; Men and horses falling ; Arrows, stones dartd an ,y sfl As thick as hail in March." Turnin originae th o gt l Norman-French, "La Estoir e Seind e t Aedward le Rei, cope " th Universite y th fro originae n mi th . yMS l Library, Cam- bridge, printed in the same volume, we find at line 4565— " Oissez lances briser, Gent e chivaus trebucher, Volent setes quareu darse z Espessement cum gresle en Marz." e editoTh r tell s thiu s s poe s mdedicatei "o t d Alianore , riehe Eeine d'Engleterre," i.e., Eleanor of Provence, queen of Henry III. " Of the forn ca mtolerabl a e w . yMS correce datth f eo t estimate." " Of course the possible limits-are 1236 and 1272, the former the year of the mar- riage, and the latter of the death of Henry III." He considers, from in- •ternal evidence t probabli , y belong yeae th ro st 1245 , whe restoratios nhi n of the church at "Westminster took place. Looking to the glossary given of the old Norman-French, we find .Quareus, e "th stones" e translationth f .e o plura th . f Quarelo is l, r o Quarrel, a square block of stone. In Henschel's edition of T)u Cange's most valuable "Grlossarium," torn vii.—" Glossarium Gallicum," we find NOTES OF SMALL ORNAMENTED STONE BALLS. 61

" Quarel—Grosse, pieire cawee, pieir taille;e volumn d e i th d , an "ev. " Glossarium Mediae et Infimse Latinitatis," we find its origin:—Quad- rellus, Quadrelli, Quarelli—Tela balistarum, brevia spissiora t forme , a quadrata, unde nomen nostris Quarreaux. Under tliis name, agai. nNo 5, we find :—Quarellus—Quadratus lapis, nostris alias Quarel, &c. wore Th d Quarel r Quareliso being amon s variougit s meanings applied laten i r timesChaucery b e shors th a , to t ,square-shape d dart arrowr so s of the more" recent weapon, the cross bow., "We havee Norman-Frencth . , thenMS thin d i , ol s h name Quarel,f o shaper theso t ecu d stones, roun generan di l form t whicbu , h when deeply cut into, with their six knobs projecting (one above the opposite one, which rested on the handle, and one from each of its four sides), gave the stone thus a general squared appearance, sufficiently accounting for the use of a name, which refers apparently in a general way to any cut or square-shaped stonee SaxonTh . wor de tells mace,Ly hi s s TIn a i S Anglo-Saxon Dictionary s simpli , e Saxoa lumpth y r nfo a mass , r o , weight, fco Latie mth n Massa; Dd uan Cangs " hi Glossarium, n ei " torn, iv., " Media t Infimse e Latinitatis," give various su s meaning Massaf so —Clava, nostris Masse. Massa—Malleus ligneus . Als&c , o Maxuca— Clava, mace , o tha&ce Anglo-SaxoS th .t n nama clu f r Mace,bo o e like Norman-Frencth e l hprobabilit al Quarel, n i s wa y also derived from the Latin. It is with some interest therefore that I am now able, with Mr Joseph Anderson's valuable assistance, to restore to its place among the ancient weapon countrr ou f e long-forgotteso yth n Stone Mace, which must have been brought in great numbers with the Saxons when they flocked in early times into Scotland wherd an , e they were probably generally used people th muca y o et b h later date tha Englandn i , ratheas , r strango et say, almost the only known examples of these old Saxon stone weapons have been notice preserved dan Scotlandn di . It is curious to find a closely analogous weapon, both apparently in size and shape, though formed entirely of a heavy and hard wood (a speci- men of which, with its short, ornamented handle 1 foot 2 inches in length, and knobbe d roundedan d head- betweeinche4 d n diameteri an s n3 s i , in my possession) still in use in our own day among our now recently added fellow-subjects of the far distant Fiji Islands of the Pacific.,' In 62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 14, 187*. thesy wa e thei n clubow r s show abundanc f skileo thein i l r manufacture, makin e materiae mosth th g f o t l used. Apparentl ya youn g a tre f eo peculiarly hard and heavy wood is taken, the stem of the tree being pared down to the proper thinness for the short, straight 'handle, and the clustering and spreading roots cut into the series of rounded project- ing knobs which form, the head of the club. Thu same sth eeffectivn a ide f handd ao an e y weapo s workeni n i t dou wood by the modern Fiji islander, and by the ancient Saxon in stone and wood combined, each working out in his own sphere a weapon of similar character, best suited to his materials and his wants.

Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. I I e at I P Vo I X l

E FROBAYEUTH M X TAPESTRY. SHEWING THE MACES USED BY THE. SAXONS ATTHE BATTLE OF HASTINGS, (Stothard's Plate I 4XIVXV s )