The archæology and prehistoric annals of ScotlandWilson, Daniel, Sir
History
The archæology and prehistoric annals of Scotland
Wilson, Daniel, Sir
Scotland -- Antiquities
"The interior of the tomb measured three feet in length, two
feet in breadth, and twenty inches in depth. The top, sides,
and ends were each formed of one stone, and at each corner the
end of a flat-stone, set on its edge, was introduced angularly
between the stones of the sides and ends. The slab that formed
the cover of the tomb measured three feet eight inches in
length, by three feet two inches in breadth. The body had been
laid upon its right side, with the face towards the south. The
limbs had been bent upwards, and it was observed when the tomb
was opened that one of the leg bones had been broken near the
middle. The length of the leg bones was eighteen inches, and
that of the thigh bones twenty inches, with very strong joints.
The skull appeared to be small in proportion to the other
parts of the body. In both jaws the teeth were complete and in
beautiful preservation. The ribs and other small bones crumbled
into dust soon after they were exposed to the air. The urn was
lying in the tomb as if it had been folded in the arms of the
corpse."[213]
Dr. Prichard remarks in reply to the question,--Was there
anything peculiar in the conformation of the head in the
British or Gaulish races? "There are probably in existence
sufficient means for deciding this inquiry in the skulls found
in old British cairns or places of sepulture. I have seen
about half a dozen skulls found in different parts of England,
in situations which rendered it highly probable that they
belonged to ancient Britons. All these partook of one striking
characteristic, viz., a remarkable narrowness of the forehead
compared with the occiput, giving a very small space to the
anterior lobes of the brain, and allowing room for a large
development of the posterior lobes. There are some modern
English and Welsh heads to be seen of a similar form, but they
are not numerous."[214]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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