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earth-house, which is of much greater importance in size and character, should have undergone so much destruction since its discovery; but there is at least this consolation, that the small portion of it which has escaped ruin is now carefully safeguarded by the proprietor.

Since the above paper was read, several interesting facts have come to my knowledge. Acting upon the suggestion of Dr Anderson, I placed myself in communication with Mr A. Granger Heiton, F.S.A. Scot., son of Mr John Granger, tenant of the farm of Pitcur, who was at the expense of excavating the earth-house, or a portion of it, at the time of its discovery in 1878.

"The objects found by him," writes Mr Heiton, "were (1) a small red clay bowl of Samian ware in pieces, afterwards put together and found to be complete; (2) a Roman coín. One or two other coins were reported as having been found, but were not seen by him. These two articles were the only ones found by members of my family. . . . I am of opinion that our knowledge of the building could and should be greatly increased by a systematic examination of the soil in and around the building; the soil never having been sifted. The proprietor would doubtless give permission if approached in the name of the Society."

I further learned from Mr Heiton that the earth-house described in these pages is quite separate and distinct from that Pitcur earth-house, a portion of whose contents was given to the Museum as far back as 13th April 1863. Hitherto, having been unaware of the fact that the large earth-house had not been discovered until 1878, I had assumed that the relics in the Museum had come from it instead of from the structure which had been unearthed fifteen years earlier. With regard to this earth-house last referred to, Mr Heiton writes:—

"As to the other find on the farm [of Pitcur], I have heard of an underground chamber having been discovered in a sandy knoll in a field called Ballo-field, on the S. W. of the farm, and just below the road leading between Pitcur and Ballo farms. Mr Hood [who presented the relics to the Society in 1863] was tenant of Pitcur at that time, but I only heard of the discovery fifteen years after it took place, when all trace had disappeared, and only the vague description of the grieve who was at the discovery was to be obtained."

Our Society, therefore, does not at present possess any relics from the

1 See p. 244 of Catalogue: HD, (1, 2) fragments of red embossed lustrous ware, (3) flint chip, (4) bodkin of bone, found along with iron implements.

earth-house described in the foregoing pages; but by the favour of Mr W. D. Graham Menzies of Hallyburton and Piteur, F.S.A. Scot., the bowl found in 1878 has been sent for exhibition, and a representation of it is now here figured, elucidated by a description from the pen of Dr Joseph Anderson.

[The Samian bowl, which has been reconstructed so far as the pieces fit together and is shown in fig. 4, is 8 inches in diameter and 5 inches high. It is of the usual form of these bowls, with ornamentation in relief, having a rounded lip, underneath which is a plain band 1 inches in depth. Under the plain band is the usual band of festoon and tassel ornament. Below this on the round of the lower part of the bowl is a band of ornament in relief arranged in panels or spaces separated vertically by wavy lines. These panels are wider at the top than at the bottom, in conformity with the rounded shape of the bowl, and are also of different widths. In the first panel to the left (as shown in fig. 4), which is subdivided across the middle of its height, there is in the upper part a bird within a medallion, and below it a hare. Below the hare are two small circles in relief. In the next panel, which is not subdivided, is a standing figure nude, and bearing a palm branch in the right hand. Underneath is a dog at speed. The third panel is a repetition of the first. The fourth is double the width, and contains at the top a lion in the act of springing, enclosed in a half circle; underneath is the subdivision of the panel by a row of five small circles between two borders of wavy lines. In the lower subdivision of the panel is another lion also about to leap. The fifth panel repeats the first and third. In the sixth panel is another standing figure nude, the upper part broken away.

With this bowl there are fragments of at least two other Samian bowls and a portion of the lip of a vessel of the ordinary coarse native pottery.] It is interesting to note that both in the earth house discovered in 1863 -of which, unhappily, no trace now survives-and in the large earthhouse still existing, there were found fragments of 'Samian' ware. Specimens of this ware were also found in the earth houses of Tealing and Fithie, both in Forfarshire; and thus there are four underground

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Fig. 4. Samian Bowl found in 1878 in the Earth-House at Pitcur. (3.)

sites on record, in this one county, in which this particular ware has been found.

Unfortunately, the Roman coin which was picked up at the same time as the bowl has been lost sight of; temporarily, it may be hoped. Nor does there appear to be any trace of the "one or two other coins reported as having been found."

It would further seem that Mr Granger's excavation of 1878 was only partial, followed afterwards by supplementary excavation on the part of the late proprietor, Mr R. Stewart Menzies, M.P., with the result that many more objects were exhumed. The Hallyburton forester, who superintended these later excavations, speaks of "a bronze pin," as well as of a quantity of "stones, beads, etc.," all taken from this earth-house. And Sir Arthur Mitchell, who visited the place in company with the late proprietor, and who saw the whole collection of objects recovered, retains the impression that these numbered from cne to two hundred, “many, of course, fragments, and many of no value." The numerous articles thus indicated by Sir Arthur Mitchell and the Hallyburton forester seem to have been mislaid-it is hoped not irretrievably-some time after the death of the late Mr Stewart Menzies.

[The Society is indebted to Mr MacRitchie for the use of the blocks of the ground plan, and interior views of the Earth-House.]

IV.

ARCHEOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MORAYTOWN, DALCROSS, INVERNESSSHIRE. BY THOMAS WALLACE, F.S. A. ScoT.

1. On the farm of Moraytown, in the parish of Dalcross, Invernessshire, on the 19th June 1899, a stone cist was discovered during agricultural operations. It measured 4 feet 3 inches by 2 feet 2 inches, and consisted of four large slabs of sandstone peculiar to the district. One of the side slabs had fallen outwards, causing the covering slab, which was of unusual size, to fall into the grave.

It contained a skeleton very much decomposed, but sufficient remained to show the position of the body, which lay doubled up with the head to the north. Portions of the skull and of the thigh and leg bones were distinguishable. Although a careful search was made, no implements or ornaments were found.

2. On the 21st of June 1899, a little to the east, a second cist was found of similar structure. In this case the skeleton was remarkably well preserved, and lay doubled up with the head to the east. The skull was well formed and of the Brachycephalic type, with teeth well preserved. Three small flat jet beads, but no implements, were found. The skull was preserved.

In grave No. 1 the body lay on the right side, while in No. 2 it lay on the left.

3. On the same evening, 21st June, a little to the east of grave No. 2, a circular pit, built with water-worn stones, was discovered. It was in shape like an inverted bee-hive, and not quite circular, as the diameter varied from 30 to 34 inches. From the floor of this chamber an arched passage built of the same kind of stones extended 8 feet to the west and ended in a chamber 394 inches by 30 inches. The height of the arched passage at the east end was 17 inches, and at the west 26 inches ; and about 18 inches wide.

In the circular chamber were found shells of the oyster, mussel, and

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