[Illustration: Bird’s-eye view of Callernish Circle and Lines.] One of the most remarkable examples of a stone circle and lines known in the British Isles is Callernish, on the west coast of the Island of Lewis. The stones were partially embedded in peat. This was cleared in 1858, and found to exist to a depth of 5 feet. The stones were here securely sunk in a ‘rough causewayed basement.’ The circle, about 40 feet in diameter, is formed by twelve stones round a central one 17 feet high. Between this stone and the east side of the circle was found a ruined chambered cairn, 20 feet in diameter, which contained fragments of burnt human bones. The stones are set in the form of a cross, the east, south, and west lines single, and extending from the circle. To the north is a double row or avenue 270 feet long. There are examples of these lines in the Dartmoor district, with rows in one case of seven parallel lines. On the Stalldon Moor is a single line of stones, starting from a stone circle, which can be clearly traced for one and a half miles, and imperfectly continued for three-fourths of a mile further, terminating at a kistvaen. Another perfect line is the Down Tor Stone Row, about 600 yards long, extending from a circle enclosing a small barrow towards a large cairn.[56] CHAPTER V. BURIAL CUSTOMS.--OGAM STONES. NECESSITY FOR DISPOSAL OF DEAD--INHUMATION AND CREMATION IN BRITISH ISLES AND CONTINENT--BALLON HILL--CARROWMORE--DYSART--METHODS OF BURIAL--ORIGIN OF CREMATION--RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT--URNS, CLASSIFICATION AND USES OF--OGAM STONES--REFERENCE TO, IN IRISH MSS.--MOUNT CALLAN STONE--BISHOP GRAVES--OGAMS DESCRIBED--ALPHABET--GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. Notwithstanding the number and variety of sepulchral remains in Ireland, it is strange that the rites and ceremonies attending the disposal of the dead in prehistoric times have not received from Irish archæologists the systematic study they deserve. Unfortunately many of the burial sites have, in the past, been treated in a manner that has left but little data of any scientific value for expert use. The number discovered, of cinerary urns containing human remains has been very great, and establish, beyond a doubt, the fact of the general custom of cremation. Most of these urns have been destroyed, either through the ignorance and stupidity of the discoverers, or the carelessness of the subsequent owners.