b o o k a n d m h a l f i n b r e a d t h . t h e o t h e r w a g a b o u t 1 2 f e e ( . h j g h j
. 1 fix fpans broad, and both were no more than four inches
thick.
In a plain near Runneby, in the province o f Blekinge, I
noted many ranges o f ftones fet up endways, and forming
various circles, all o f which plainly referred to one general
difpofition. I counted at leaft ten o f thefe circles; and
among the moft perfect, one of eight ftones, whofe diameter
meafured five paces, and another o f ten, whofe diameter was
feven ; the generality were from two to four feet in height,
and the higheft did not exceed ten.
Again, clofe to Skillinge, the neareft poft to Carlfcrona,
are feveral fimilar remains upon a rocky eminence, which
confift o f many oval or circular ranges : the greateft part
were in their rough ftate; a few were hewn flat and broad,
and others fomewhat refembled pillars pointed at top in the
rudeftmanner. At the fummit of the rock feveral concen-
trick ranges enclofed a fpace o f about ten feet diameter, in the
center o f which flood two flat ftones fcarcely three feet in
height, placed edgeways, and between them was the lower
part o f a withered trunk, the remains o f a tree, which had
once flouriihed in that fpot. It appeared to me like an oak ;
and a perfon attached to the hypothefis that fuch circles of ftone
are druidical relicks, might, with a fmall degree o f enthufi-
afm, have confidered this very tree as the central oak, i f he
could fuppofe that the religion of the Druids was ever efta-
hlifhed in thefe Northern kingdoms. The largeft of thefe
ftones was about 1 2 feet in height. On the fouthern fide
o f the fame village were fimilar monuments o f antiquity, the
higheft o f which meafured 18 fe e t; and we continually
obferved remains o f the fame through Sweden.
a In
In the Daniih ifles, as well as in Slefwick r and Holftein, CHAP- V. thefe circles occurred no lefs frequently than in Sweden ; but>—
none o f the ftones were of any fize, few which fell under
my obfervation exceeding fix or feven feet;, and the greateft.
part were not more than two or three in height. In fome parts
I alfo noticed two placed edgeways, and upon them an unformed
mafs o f ftone laid in an horizontal pofition. One o f
thefe monuments is thus defcribed in colonel Floyd’s Journal..
i About three or four Engliih miles from Corfoer, at the
“ extremity o f a wood, ftanding on a promontory, I found
“ one of the moft perfedt o f thofe antient monuments. I
“ obferved a large mound o f earth, on the fummit o f which-
“ large conical granite ftones, ftanding at fmall intervals from.
“ each other, enclofed an oval fpace o f a very confiderable
“ extent. In the center and higheft point, a huge, ihapelefs-
“ mafs o f granite was laid horizontally on four other ftones,.
“ almoft buried beneath the furface of the groflnd. Near it
“ was another mound, on the top o f which, another large ftone
“ was placed in a fimilar manner on four others. I remarked
“ fome veftiges of trenches ; but as the place was covered
“ with underwood, and as night approached, I could not trace -
“ their dire ¿lion.”
In anfwer to many inquiries in feveral parts o f Sweden,
concerning the origin o f thefe antient relicks, the peafants
called them Gothick ftones ; and it feemed to be a general
tradition amongft them, that they were eredted by the Goths,
whom they reprefented as a race o f giants formerly inhabiting
thefe countries. I ihall here take notice, that we have -
many fimilar monuments-in our ifland; and particularly that
the Rol-rich ftones near Burford in Oxfordfhire, the; Snake’s
Head o f Overton Temple, as defcribed by Stukeley * ;
* Stu k e le y ’ s A b u r y , p . 4.. T a b . I I I . p . 40 3..&.Tab. X X I . -
fome