266 



The Irish Naturalist* 



September, 



There can be no doubt as to the geological value of the 

 cromleac. At a number of places on the south coast of 

 Ireland there are features which point to a recent submergence. 

 Submerged peat occurs at Rossearbery, Youghal, Dungarvan, 

 Ardmore, etc., and has been cut for fuel when favourable 

 opportunities occurred. In Youghal Bay tree stumps in situ 

 have been laid bare at low tides ; at Haulbowline Island, in 

 Cork Harbour, during excavations for Government works, tree 

 stumps below sea level are also reported ; and Mr. R. J. 

 Ussher has described a submarine crannoge on peat under 



Plan. 

 (Top of page = South). 



J L. 



i i f 



Scale of feet. 



North 

 Elevation. 



■&* 



Fig. i. Sketches of the Submerged Cromleac, Rostellan. 



high water mark at Ardmore. The cromleac at Saleen Creek 

 is an important additional piece of evidence concerning this 

 submergence, for there can be no doubt that the uprights are 

 in their original position, and these are draped in seaweed 

 half-way up. It also gives an approximate geological date to 

 the submergence, for as the cromleac would be not earlier 

 than Neolithic in age, the depression of the land must have 

 taken place later than this, and this points to a prolonged 

 elevation of southern Ireland from pre-Glacial times until a 

 very recent geological date. 



