encrustation from smoke upon the roof of the chambers could be perceived; the cooking may, however, have been carried on outside the dwelling, according to a practice to which Mr. Stanley has adverted.1 It is hoped that detailed publication of these very curious discoveries by Dr. Blackmore and Mr. Stevens will not be long deferred. The calcined flints, locally termed "milkstones" in the eastern parts of Hampshire, and brought under notice by Sir J. Clarke Jervoise, Bart., are probably, as previously pointed out, traces of the practice in question (Arch. Journ., vol. xx, p. 371). The Rev. E. Kell, F.S.A., in a recent memoir on Roman remains near Andover, and on the supposed site of Vindunum, observes that the neighbourhood teems with traces of earlier times. "The vestiges of the ancient British population are numerous; charred flints, known by the name of 'pot-boilers,' abound. Flint implements, consisting of celts, lance and arrow-heads, sling-stones, etc., have been found on many parts of the surface in this neighbourhood." (Journ. Brit. Arch. Ass., 1867, p. 280.) Similar vestiges are doubtless to be found on other sites of early occupation.

In Ireland, as I am informed by the Rev. James Graves, such pebbles constantly occur in the remarkable subterraneous structures known as "Raths," the character of which has lately been so well illustrated in the Archæological Journal by Col. Lane Fox.2 When they bear no signs of burning, Mr. Graves has been accustomed to regard such round stones as missiles, for use by sling or by hand; the Irish, to this day, as he observes, throw a stone with extraordinary force and truth of aim. But, when such stones bear traces of fire, Mr. Graves considers that they had undoubtedly been used in cooking. It is remarkable that even in our own See p. 392, ante.

2 Arch. Journal, vol. xxiv, pp. 123, 136.

3 In connection with this very curious subject may be here mentioned the "Giants' Cinders" in Ireland,-heaps of half-calcined grit stones, called sometimes "the cooking places of the Fenians." They mostly occur, according to Mr. Graves, near water, and in some

days "stone-boiling" is not wholly obsolete. In Carinthia, as the late Swiss Antiquary, Morlot, told me, they make a dark brown beer, called "Steinbier," by throwing hot stones into the vat or cask; a fact that recalls the account given by Linnæus of Finnish beer called Lura," prepared by throwing red-hot stones into the liquor instead of boiling it.1

66

In an adjacent part of the hut-circle F, not far from the fire-place, was found at 1, a stone whorl (fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Whorl of red Sandstone. Two-thirds orig. size.

This little object, which at first sight suggested the conjecture that we had found, in that western part of the dwelling, the gynæcium or resort of the mistress of the cyttiau, is of a class of relics occurring constantly on all ancient sites: it is of dark red sandstone, and measures about 1 in. in diameter, in. in thickness. These massive little discs or rudely-shaped beads are commonly designated spinning-whorls, and many examples seem well-suited to be affixed to the spindle.2 The Rev. D. Davies has figured a specimen ornamented with radiating lines and dots in the intervals; it was found in a cave with flint arrow-heads and other relics near Carno, Montgomeryshire (Arch. Camb., vol. iii, instances consist of a hundred cartloads, or more, of stones; some heaps are of small extent. He informs me that, as he believes, these were places where the spoils of the chase were cooked, the hot stones being heaped round the carcases and forming rude ovens. Trans. Kilkenny Arch. Soc., vol. iii, pp. 59, 84; Gent. Mag., June, 1854, p. 627. 1 Tour in Lapland, vol. ii, p. 231.

2 See Mr. Couch's notice of "Pisky grinding-stones" found in Cornwall, Journal Roy. Inst., Cornw., vol. ii, p. 280. A relic of this description found in a cave, Chapel-Uny, is figured by Mr. Blight, Churches, etc., of W. Cornwall, p. 138. In N. Britain such whorls are called "pixy- wheels."

third series, p. 305). There is a considerable collection of such articles in the Museum at Dublin; they have been called by popular tradition in Ireland, "fairy millstones," and sometimes, by the older antiquarians, "amulets." They have occurred frequently on the sites of Crannoges, as likewise around the Pfahlbauten of the Swiss Lakes. Some of these discs may have been used with the distaff, but I incline to believe, with Mr. Franks, that not a few were fastenings of the dress. He remarks, in noticing a specimen found at Haverfordwest, and given in 1851 to the British Museum by Mr. Stokes:

"This is one of those curious objects frequently found in England, but regarding which various opinions have been expressed. By some it has been conjectured to be the verticillus of a spindle, from its similarity to such objects found with Roman remains; by others a bead or button. This last opinion seems not unlikely, as very similar objects have been found in Mexico, which have certainly been used as buttons." The specimen from South Wales has evidently, as Mr. Franks notices, had a cord passed through it, the edge of the central hole. being much worn by friction.2 Two specimens from North Wales are described by Mr. Ffoulkes (Arch. Journ., vol. viii, p. 426); one of them found in a morass near Dolgellau, the other in Bodfari Camp, Flintshire. The reader who may care to investigate more fully such relics of female industry, will find abundant information in Dr. Hume's treatise on spindle-whorls, beads and pendants, in his account of Antiquities found on the Sea-coast of Cheshire; and also in Mr. Syer Cuming's

1 There are 70 specimens in the collection of the R. I. Academy. Wilde's Catal., p. 116. The industry of spinning and weaving flax was prevalent amongst the old occupants of the piled dwellings in Switzerland. The form of whorl is somewhat peculiar-one side is mostly flat, the other conical. They are usually of clay. See Mr. Lee's translation of the Memoirs by Dr. Keller on the Lake Dwellings; London, 1866.

2 Arch. Journ., vol. ix, p. 11. See also Professor Nilsson's observations on ancient Scandinavian buttons of amber and stone. Primitive Inhabitants of Scandinavia, translated by Sir John Lubbock, pp. 85, 86.

Memoir on Ancient Spindles, communicated to the British Archæological Association.1

I might mention other examples of the stone whorl found in North Wales; they present, however, no remarkable variation in their size or fashion. One similar to that above figured is in Mr. Stanley's possession at Penrhos. It was found in Anglesey, in the parish of Llanenghenedl, and not far from Ynys Llyrad, where, as before mentioned, a cluster of cyttiau may still be seen.2

A few other relics of stone were brought to light in immediate proximity to the hut-circle at Ty Mawr. They consist of an irregularly rounded pebble, that may have been used as a sharpening stone or a polisher; also an oblong four-sided rolled pebble, length about 3 in., in its general appearance like a rudely-shaped celt, the smaller end being rubbed down, as if for some mechanical use; Mr. Franks informs me that similar pebbles occurred in "kjökkenmöddings" in the Isle of Herm, one of the Channel Islands. Mr. Stanley found also a rolled pebble of quartzite approaching to greenstone (fig. 5). It may have been a hand-hammer, or used

1 Ancient Meols, by the Rev. A. Hume, LL.D.; London, 1863, p. 151; where numerous specimens are figured. Journal Brit. Arch. Assoc., 1859, p. 396.

2 See notices of some other specimens found in Anglesey, Arch. Camb., vol. vi, third series, p. 376.

for pounding; each extremity shows effects of percussion; there are also fractures where flakes appear to have been struck off, such as may have been used for rough arrow-points or the like. It is here figured on a reduced scale. The dimensions are about 3 in. by 23, greatest width. I may likewise notice a ponderous cylindrical muller or grinding-stone of trap found in an adjacent field in 1866. It measures 8 in. in length, the girth at the thickest part is 10 in.; the weight is 6 lbs. 2 oz. One end was broken by the finder; the other bears indications of considerable percussion; one side also is somewhat flattened, possibly in triturating grain or other substances. (See fig. 6, one-third original size.) No stone muller of precisely similar description

Fig. 6. Cylindrical Grinding-stone found near Ty Mawr. One-third orig. size.

has come under my notice, and I failed to find any in the Christy collection, so rich in the various types of antiquities of stone. The late Mr. Bateman, in his excavations in Derbyshire, found, on the site of a so-called British habitation, a cylindrical object of stone that he supposed to have been used for bruising grain, and he observes that it resembles one found in an Aztec burialmound in South America examined by Capt. Nepean Mr. Anderson, in his report on cairns and remains in Caithness explored in 1865, describes an "oblong shorepebble wasted at the ends by use as a pestle."

1

I may here notice an implement, probably used like1 Capt. Nepean's researches are noticed in the Archaologia, vol. xxx. Many of the relics discovered were presented to the British Museum.

2 Other similar objects are likewise mentioned, found in a "Picts' House," at Wick. Memoirs, Anthropol. Soc., vol. ii, pp. 228, 231.