396 Tlie Fre-historic AntiquUies of Lough Gur. [July, 



The bones procured here consisted of the remains of Bos longi- 

 frons, the heads of which ahnost all exhibited a fractured front, 

 produced by the blow which had killed them. Bones of the pig 

 and goat were also found, the heads of which were likewise marked 

 by broken fi'ontal portions. Together with these were the bonea 

 and antlers of the stag, and some skuUs, jaws, and other bones of a 

 dog of a large eize, and with an elongated muzzle. These dogs 

 seem to have belonged to a race which was the progenitor of the 

 now extinct rough-haired Irish greyhound. A few human remains 

 were found along with the other bones. Some of these consisted 

 of lower jaws, generally of a large size, and a heavy outhne. 



Besides bones, this island has been a very prolific som'ce of stone 

 implements in the form of pohshed celts. It has also yielded great 

 quantities of bone pins and piercers. Stone discs about 3 inches in 

 diameter and ^ an inch in thickness, beautifully rounded in outline, 

 and with finely smoothed surfaces, have also been among its pro- 

 ducts. Similar discs have been obtained in other parts of Ireland 

 in connection with Crannoges. For what purpose they served it is 

 difficult to conceive, and nothing analogous to them has been found 

 among the remains of the pile-dwellings of S\\itzerland. 



Judging from its nature and the character of the several kinds 

 of remains which Garrets Island has afforded, there is every reason 

 for concluding that this island is the rehc of a large Crannoge. 

 History contains no authentic records of this, although some of the 

 Irish Crannoges were occupied so late as the seventeenth century. 



The portion of country around Lough Gur had been long in 

 possession of the Desmonds before their forfeiture in the reign of 

 Elizabeth ; and the occupation of the Lough Gur crannoge must 

 have been antecedent to the Desmond possession. That this cran- 

 noge of Lough Gur is of an ancient date, is proved by the imple- 

 ments which have been derived from it. Very few iron weapons 

 have been obtained in it. Bronze celts of either the socketed or 

 winged typo, are rare in connection with it. The earlier and 

 simpler form of bronze celt has been more frequently procured from 

 it ; and pure copper celts, the earliest form of metal, implements 

 have been among the products of this Crannoge. These copper 

 celts are of a ruder type than the earliest form of bronze weapons 

 of the same character, and in outline they approximate more nearly 

 to the antecedent stone celts. 



It is, however, for stone implements that the Crannoge of Lough 

 Gur is famous, and of these many may be seen in the Museum 

 of the Boyal Irish Academy, in some of the pubhc museums of 

 England, and also in several private collections. 



