Georgian Books, The Antiquities of Cornwall by William Borlase Chapter VII

Of Circular Monuments, the Use and Design of them among, the Ancients in foreign Countries, and the Druids in this.

Among the mot ancient British Monuments, the Circles of Stones-erect may justly claim a place; we come therefore to discourse of them particularly, for as much as, by their simplicity, they appear to be next in date to the Monuments which go before.

In Cornwall there is a great number of these Circles (and of most sorts that have been mentioned) and the name they go by most commonly is, that of Dawns-men, that is, the Stone-Dance, "so called & of the common people on no other account, than that they are placed in a circular Order, and so make an Area for Dancing.

This is the true reason of that name, and not a corruption of Dani men (as some have imagined), as if these Monuments had been of Danish erection; the traditions of the common people seldom fixin upon, and being constant to, points of history, but rather taking the; rise from some obvious property that strikes the senses, and resemble; the Customs of their Country. To confirm Mr. Lhuyd's opinion, I must observe, that these Circles are found where the Danes never were; that, Dawnse in Cornish, signifies a Dance, and that in the circular Figure (of which we are now treating) there is a very ancient Dance, or play¹, still practised among the Cornish. For the same reason, as I suppose (namely, because these circular Stones ere seem to have thrown themselves into a King towards a Merry making) about eight miles West of Bath, a Monument [Stanton Drew Stone Circles] of this kind is called the Wedding; and I cannot but observe, that the Greeks had such a Dance at their hymeneal solemnities, as appears by the Nuptials engraved on the shield of Achilles, where the young men are said to run round, or dance in a Ring.

Note 1. It is called Trematheeves.

Of these Monuments that kind was most ancient which was most simple, and consisted only of a Circle of Stones-erect. Of this sort we have a great number in Cornwall, which differ not materialy from one another:

Boskednan Circle [Map] therefore (Plate XV, Fig,II) may represent the whole.

In the tenement of Kerris¹ there is an oval Inclosure, which may be seen Plate XVII. Fig. II. It is about 52 paces from North to South, and 34 wide, from East to Weg. At the Southern Termination A, stand four rude Pillars about eight feet high, at the foot of which lie some large long stones, which I am apt to think did formerly rest upon these Pillars. The Plan on which these Pillars stand² is eighteen feet from North to South and eleven feet wide. I am inclined to think that this was a place of Worship, that these Stones-erect were designed to distinguish and dignify the Entrance, and were the Kibla of the Place (as the learned Dr. Stukeley calls the Cove of one of his Abury Circles), and that they were erected like some of the Stones at Stone-henge in the shape of two rude Portals, to inspire those that entered this enclosure with double Sanctity. It is at present called the Roundago [Map], which name (though English) it may have acquired possibly from the superstitious Rounds used in the Druid Worship.

Note 1. Parish of Paul, Cornwall.

Note 2. See the Entrance, or Portal, Pl. XVII.

Of these Monuments that kind was most ancient which was most simple, and consisted only of a Circle of Stones-erect. Of this fort we have a great number in Cornwall, which differ not materially from one another, Boskednan Circle [Map] therefore (Plat. XIII. Fig. ii.) may represent the whole.

Of this kind is the Monument call'd the Hurlers [Map], in the Parish St. Clere, Cornwall, the Stones of which, by the vulgar, are suppos'd to have been once Men, and thus transform'd, as a punishment for their hurling upon the Lord's Day.¹ This Monument consisted of three Circles from which many Stones are now carry'd off; what remain, and their distances may be seen (Plate XV. fig. vi.).

Note 1. Hurling, is playing with a Ball, and endeavouring to get at the Goal with it before one's Antagonist; an antient tryal of Strength and Swiftness among the Cornish.

Again, some of these Circles include, and intersect one the other, as in the curious cluster of Circles at Botallek [Map], (Plate XIV.) in the seeming consusion of which I can't but think that there was some mystical meaning, or, at least, distinct allotment to particular uses. Some of these might be employ'd for the Sacrifice, and to prepare, kill, examine, and burn the Victim, others allotted to Prayer, others to the Feasting of the Priests, others for the station of those who devoted the Victims: Whilst one Druid was preparing the Victim in one Place, another was adoring in another, and describing the limits of his Temple; a Third was going his round at the extremity of another Circle of Stones; and, likely, many Druids were to follow one the other in these mysterious Rounds: Others were busy in the Rights of Augury, that so all the Rites, each in it's proper place, might proceed at one and the same time, and under the inspection of the High-Priests; who, by comparing and observing the indications of the whole, might judge of the Will of the Gods with the greater certainty: Lastly, that these Circles intersected each other in so remarkable a manner as we find them in this Monument, might be, to intimate that each of these Holy Rites, though exercised in different Circles, and their own proper compartments, were but so many Rings, or Links, of one and the same chain, and that there was a constant dependance, and connexion betwixt Sacrifice, Prayer, Holy Feasting, and all the several parts of their Worship.