DESCRIPTIONS OP CRANIA.
and much ornamented with zigzag lines, &c. outside, but of different patterns. At the bottom of
the vase examined by Mr. Watt, he informs us there was a deposit of black greasy matter; imd
also that the covering slabs of aU the cists presented the appearance of a spot on their under
sides about a foot in diameter, marked with smoke, immediately above where the urns were
placed He infers that these vases had been employed for holding some fat substance burned at
the moment of interment, which appears very improbable. That such vases contamed food,
intended for the use of the dead, seems to be tolerably conclusive-the greasy deposit m this
one confli-ms such an appropriation of them.
This cranium from the Kinaldie cist, which has almost wholly perished on the left side, is
that of a man, of probably 40 years of age. The face is rather long, its lower part narrow; the
nasal orifice also narrow, the nose being arched with more grace than usual m these ancient
crania- the teeth have undergone considerable detrition; the arch of the palate is lofty; the
lower jaw of moderate dimensions ; the forehead is tolerably capacious; the coronal sutm-e very
cribriform at its sides; the parietals exhibit a rather large transverse arch just behind theu:
tubers- the parieto-occipital flatness is present, but not very marked; the mastoid is of good
size. Notwithstanding the horizontal vertex of this skuU, which terminates so abruptly behind
the middle of the parietals, it must be referred to the brachy-cephalic typical series.
MEASUREMENTS.
Occipital Region.—Height . . 3-9 inches.
Pace.—Length . . . . . . 4-5 „
Length of the Pemur . . . . 18-5 „
Length of the Humerus . . . 13'2
Length 6-8 inches.
Prontal Region.—Length . . 5'0 „
Height . . 4-7 „
Parietal Region.—Height . . 4-6 „
This cranium, derived £i-om the country of the Picts, may probably have belonged to one of
that people, although we have not at present any data for determining the exact period to which
it is to be attributed.
of different patterns. These latter aecompanied incinerated «ssels is cnrions. The Celtic tribes of Britain cannot be convemains
in the cists, but did not themselves contain any ashes, sidered to have been .ery deficient in artistic skill or taste.
The "reat dirersitj- in the decoration of these primeval earthen
° (J. B. D.)
2.5.