Celtic art in Pagan and Christian times

John Stuart Mill · en
Seventeen uprights—Nos. 2, 3, 4, 10, and 16 sculptured,
        commencing at end of passage S.W. side, and counting
        round from right to left. Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are in S.W.
        recess, where there is also a horizontal stone above
        No. 3 sculptured. No. 10 forms the N.E. jamb of the
        N.W. recess. No. 16 forms the S.E. jamb of the N.E.
        recess, which has also a sculptured roofing-stone. The
        horizontal lintel-stone over the opening of the passage
        into the chamber is sculptured.

[Illustration: Spiral Ornament at Newgrange, Co. Meath.

Scale ⅙ linear]

Analysing the sculptured decoration of the Newgrange tumulus, we find
it to consist partly of chevron patterns and chevron derivatives (such
as combinations of the triangle and lozenge), and partly of spiral
ornament, together with a few designs formed of circles grouped round
a lozenge, and some cups and rings. The chevron patterns have already
been noticed on sepulchral urns, bronze implements, and jet necklaces
of Great Britain, and concentric circles on socketed bronze celts, but
spiral ornament is conspicuous by its absence on any of these classes
of objects. Spirals are only known to occur on sculptured stones and
rock-surfaces in Great Britain, and on a few of the remarkable stone
balls with knobs found in Scotland. The following examples have been
recorded:—

[Illustration: Slab with Spiral Ornament outside entrance to passage of
Tumulus at Newgrange, Co. Meath

From a drawing by George Coffey, M.R.I.A.]

                           ENGLAND
    CUMBERLAND.     Maughanby (Stone circle surrounding cist
                       under tumulus).
                    Old Parks, Kirkoswald (Upright slab under tumulus).
    LANCASHIRE.     Calderstones, near Liverpool (Stone Circle).
    NORTHUMBERLAND. Morwick (Rock-surface).
                    Lilburn Hill Farm (Slabs of stone found in grave).

                            WALES
    MERIONETHSHIRE. Llanbedr (Slab of stone found near hut-circles,
                       now in Llanbedr churchyard).

                           SCOTLAND
    ORKNEY.        Eday (Stone in Pict’s House,
                      now in the Edinburgh Museum).
                   Firth (Slab of stone, now in the Edinburgh Museum).
    ELGINSHIRE.    Strypes (Standing stone).
                   Elgin (Stone ball).
    ABERDEENSHIRE. Towie (Stone ball, now in the Edinburgh Museum).
                   Lumphanan (Stone ball, now in collection of
                   Hugh W. Young, Esq., F.S.A., Scot.).
    ARGYLLSHIRE.   Achnabreac (Sculptured rock-surface).
    AYRSHIRE.      Coilsfield (Cist-cover).
                   Blackshaw (Rock-surface).
    PEEBLESSHIRE.  La Mancha (Slab of stone, now in the
                   Edinburgh Museum).
    WIGTONSHIRE.   Camerot Muir, Kirkdale (Standing stone).
    DUMFRIESSHIRE. Hollows Tower, Eskdale (Door-sill).