220 EErORT— 1881. 



latter bones were also plentiful, but wanted the polish observable on 

 those made of antler, which were more carefully finished and had either 

 a notched groove, an eye, or a head otherwise carved for attachment by a 

 string. Of the bone articles there are several combs with teeth on both 

 sides, whose middle portion is formed of three plates of bone fastened 

 together with rivets of bone and in one instance of iron. A knife-handle 

 of antler, polished and ornamented with small circles, held an iron blade, 

 some of which remains. A portion of a large polished jet bracelet, as well 

 as of a smaller one, was also fotind, and two bits of coloured iridescent 

 glass. 



A bronze pin and other objects of bronze were also found. 



Iron objects were numerous, especially small curved knife-blades 

 thick at the back. There is one long slender knife or poniard, a spear- 

 head eleven inches long, and the head of a smaller spear, a series of 

 slender rods and pins of iron, two of the latter with iron rings attached 

 to them, large-headed iron nails, a rude buckle, a portion of a crucible 

 or helmet, and the share of a wooden plough with wood adhering. One 

 of the most interesting objects of iron is a small saw with the end curved 

 up like that of a skate. This is inserted in a wooden back, which doubt- 

 less served as the handle, and explains why the pieces of antler Avere not 

 cut through, as would be done by a modern saw-blade. 



Stone objects were also numerous ; a quern, a round mace or hammer- 

 head with a hole for inserting a handle, spindle- whorls, a small stone 

 bead, a large assortment of whetstones, one of which was beautifully cut 

 and pierced by a hole for attachment, burnishing stones, globular and 

 disc-shaped pebbles, which probably served as sling-stones, and one of 

 which has a cross cut on it, also a number of marine pebbles, probably 

 selected for their colouring, and crystals. With these sea-pebbles may be 

 mentioned shells of oysters, limpets, whelks, cockles, scallops, and other 

 marine molluscs. Slabs of sandstone, and in some cases of silurian rock, 

 foreign to the locality, frequently occurred, arranged evidently for hearths, 

 at different levels in the cavity, which doubtless became buried under sub- 

 sequent debris. 



A large amount of the kitchen-midden is believed to remain un- 

 disturbed, probably quite as much as the excavated material. At a depth 

 of more than twenty feet the cavity was found to extend very much and 

 not to be filled with earth. On exploring the open part with lights, large 

 chambers were discovered, from one of which by a steep descent we 

 made our way into the extensive system of galleries shown in the accom- 

 panying plan, which has been dialled and laid out by Mr. Duflfin, County 

 Surveyor, who has given me the most valuable assistance. The dialling 

 shows the directions and lengths of the chambers and galleries already 

 known, but time did not allow of making a detailed survey. When the 

 dialling was laid out on the surface it was found that the point R is 

 very near the face of the scarp, and that persons within the cave could 

 here communicate by sounds with those without. Here a convenient 

 entrance can be made into the caverns. On the surface of the different 

 galleries were found broken bones of domestic animals similar to those 

 in the kitchen-midden, as well as charcoal. As a rule a stalagmite floor 

 extends throughout, exhibiting in places large pillars, domes, cones, 

 dammed-up pools of clear water, and similar phenomena. This stalag- 

 mite floor rests on a deposit of cave-earth several feet in depth, which it 

 is desirable to excavate and remove to daylight for thorough examination, 



