OS1/25/17/25

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 25
[Continued] The passage (h) between the inner chambers (d and f ) was built up, and on opening it
3 skulls were found with a number of fragments of human bones. The bodies must have
been placed in a sitting position, with the Knees pushed up to the chin. Unfortunately, the only bones
I saw were those of the head; so that no idea of their stature could be formed. 2 of the skulls were of
adults - one of these probably of a male, and the other of a female. They were well formed, and of a
large size; with healthy teeth, and their crowns worn nearly flat by the attrition of the hard description
of food they had lived on. The skulls exhibited palpable evidence of having been subject to the long
continued action of moister, as the greater part of the gelatinous constituent of the bone had disappeared
leaving the denser bones light, porous, and exceedingly brittle, and the less compact bones very friable,
breaking down on the slightest pressure. These skulls had probably belonged to persons of low rank,
as they had no implements of the chase, or personal ornaments buried with them, as was generally
the case with individuals of condition. Had these chambers been inhabited by the earliest inhabitants
of the country, we should most probably have found the remains of stone implements, which are
very rarely found in such hill fortifications. From these facts it would appear that there was
a strong British fortification upon the hill of Dunsinane, prepared by an ancient people, who had
advanced so far in refinement as to have felt the importance of uniting in considerable
bodies, to defend themselves against their powerful enemies. The number of such
fortifications on each side of Strathmore, and the immense labour that must have been
expended, and the quantity of charcoal and bones found in the example now under
consideration, seem to prove that such " strengths" were places of resort to large numbers of
persons, probably on sudden emergencies. The caverns may have been used for securing
their food and most valuable effects, and were probably only occupied when the weather
was very cold and stormy. This agrees with the description of similar chambers as used
by the ancient Germans :— "Solent, et subterraneos specus aperire, eosque multo insuper fimo onerant,
suffugium hiemi, et receptaculum. frugibus, quia rigorem frigorum ejusmodi locis molliunt: et si quando
hostis advenit, aperta populatur, abdita autem et defossa, aut ignorantur, aut eo ipso fallunt quod quaerenda sunt