large capstone, measuring 10 feet by 5 feet by 18 inches thick, with its under surface perfectly flat. Adjoining this tumulus, and to the S. of it, is a mound 21 feet square. No. 13 has a diameter of 33 feet, and in some parts the outer ring of stones is distinctly visible.

We have thus seen that upright stone circles surrounded many of these tumuli, and these were invented before the Bronze Age, but gradually the circle was separated from the barrow or cairn, and became the leading feature of the grave. Such stone circles are to be seen in many parts of this district. Earlier writers regarded stone circles as Druidical temples (hence the name assigned to a circle at the back of Penmaenmawr), and even now a famous French archæologist still supports that view. It is also contended that many circles were orientated to the midsummer sunrise, and that outlying stones acted as pointers. In the case of the Druids' Circle, the sun is said to set at the winter solstice behind a stone on the western side, as seen by looking across the centre from a stone on the eastern side.

One thing, however, is fairly certain, that many

stone circles were erected in honour of brave men who had fallen in battle, or of some chief whose body could not be recovered. The same remarks apply to the solitary stones or menhirs (meini hirion).

The best examples in this district are in the uplands at the back of Penmaenmawr, including the Druids' Circle, which has been described by various writers from the time of Sir John Wynne, among them Pennant,3 Mr. Longueville Jones, and Mr. J. O. Halliwell, F.R.S.5 As showing that this circle was an

4

2

1 There seems, however, to be a belief that, in this instance, the name is of comparatively recent origin.

2 An Ancient Survey of Penmaenmawr, p. 24.

W. Bezant Lowe, June, 1906.

3 Tours in Wales, vol. iii, p. 118.

4 Arch. Camb., 1846

5 Family Excursions.

Re-edited by

ancient burial place, Mr. Llewelyn Jewitt, writing in November, 1876, on English Antiquities says:

"A large circle on Penmaenmawr was composed of several uprights, connected with smaller masonry. Here the interments were apparently made beside the pillars. Against the inner side of the tallest stone on the eastern part, were the remains of a small Cistvaen; whilst against the pillar facing it on the opposite side,

was heaped up a small cairn. The whole is surrounded by a ditch, within which is another small cairn.'

A short distance to the west of this, is another circle (Fig. 9), but, on further investigation, it seems possible that one set of these stones forms the remains of a long barrow. To the S. W. of this is still another, where the circle is marked by a ring of earth, with small stones projecting through it at intervals. Pennant says "there were four circles near the first, and in the

centre of one a flat stone"; this last seems to have disappeared, and, in fact, in his time, these circles appear to have been far more numerous.

About half-a-mile to the west, in a field not far from a tumulus with an outer circle of stones, is a small circle of eight fairly large stones, with an opening on the eastern side.

Near the track, alongside a wall leading from

Llyn y Wrach to Tyddyn Grasod, about 600 yards due west of a small farm-house called Hafotty, and about 1200 yards to the N.N.E. of Maen Namor, is a fairly good example of a stone circle (Fig. 10). Its diameter is about 40 feet, and six stones are still standing; the largest stone is 2 feet 6 inches high, 3 feet broad on the side facing west, and 2 feet thick at the base. It tapers to a thin edge at the top,

which is 1 foot broad. Unfortunately, one of the largest stones has been blasted.

Not far from the Pass of the Two Stones, the Roman Road to Caerhun passes between walls. A few hundred yards from this point may be seen, over the wall on the right, what appear to be either two adjacent stone circles, or a series of stones enclosing an oval space.

Fig. 11.-Maen Hir, near Maen y Bardd
(Photograph by B. M. Cushing)

It remains only to say a few words about the monoliths or maen hirs. These seem to be chiefly confined to the neighbourhood of the Roman Road from the River Conway to Aber. From their general position it is quite possible that, in early times, some of them may have been landmarks over a somewhat difficult country, before the Romans made their celebrated road from Conovium to Aber. One of these stones is said to have been at the bottom of the slope below Llanbedr, but it has unfortunately been broken

up.

Near Bath Farm, Llanbedr, is another-a huge stone of rectangular shape. Further on, near Cromlech Maen y Bardd, is a long needle-shaped stone (Fig. 11) sloping a little to the east; it is 7 feet 3 inches high by 1 foot 2 inches by 1 foot 3 inches; its Welsh name is Ffon y Cawr (the Giant's Walking-stick). Professor Angelo Mosso, in The Dawn of Mediterranean Civilisation (London, 1910), says: "It is now demonstrated

that pillar worship dates back to the Neolithic Age. I believe that standing stones' belong to the baetylic cult." Further on, to the right of the road is another monolith, not far from the farm "Cae Coch." The stone is oval in section, the longer diameter being 6 feet, the shorter 1 feet, and the height about 7 feet.

Proceeding to the top of the Pass, the famous "Bwlch y Ddeufaen" (Fig. 12) comes in view. Until