506 Dr. R. F. Scharff, etc. — Exploration of Kesh Caves. 



several cases form connecting galleries from cave to cave. This 

 feature is more or less common to them all. The whole system of 

 excavations, in fact, clearly depends upon the jointed structure of the 

 limestone. The great cliff is due to the flaking away of the mass 

 along one series of vertical joints, and solution works along the 

 same series within, and produces passages and fissures parallel to 

 the face. The caves connected by these fissures have also been 

 worked out by solution, acting along the second vertical series 

 of joints which run in perpendicularly to the great cliff face. The 

 general slope of the cave floors is from within outwards, and the 

 contained deposits are mainly the detritus and residue of the 

 limestone rock, with fallen blocks from the walls and roof, set in 

 a soft calcareous tufa. 



Coffey Cave. — Our excavations were commenced in May, 1901, 

 at the mouth of one of the larger caves, which is about central in the 

 series, and which we distinguish as the Coffey Cave. It has a lofty 

 A-shaped mouth, and a large deposit of clay occupies its lower 

 portion. The section made in this across the cave's mouth disclosed 

 the following deposits in descending order : — 



1. Surface soil of a blackish brown, containing charcoal, a tine of 

 Eed Deer antler, the broken bones of domestic animals, and a few 

 implements indicating temporary occupation by man rather than 

 fixed settlement. The bones and implements are such as are 

 commonly found in raths and crannogs, and the depth of this layer 

 is from six to twelve inches. 



. 2. Breccia, consisting of limestone blocks and fragments fallen 

 from the roof, in a deposit of calcareous tufa. This bed contained 

 numerous land-shells (Helix, Eyalinia, Clausilia) and bones of small 

 mammals. Among these the Arctic Lemming was numerously 

 represented as well as in the next stratum. This is the first 

 instance in which this animal has been identified as a former 

 inhabitant of Ireland. A mandible has been referred to the Irish 

 Stoat, though smaller than that of a Weasel ; and some canine 

 remains have not yet been definitely identified. The depth of the 

 breccia is from a foot in the centre increasing to three feet at the 

 sides of the cave. 



3. Clay of a brown ochreous colour containing large blocks of 

 limestone and numerous bones of small mammals (including 

 Lemming), as well as a few of larger ones. At a depth of six feet 

 from the surface a large glaciated block of limestone was found. 



Pltjnkett Cave. — Owing to the difficulty of removing the numerous 

 limestone blocks we searched for more promising ground and decided 

 to work at a smaller cave, one of the most southern of the series, 

 which opened at a somewhat higher level. We called this the 

 Plunkett Cave. A lofty entrance narrows down to a low mouth, 

 from five to six feet wide, and inside this the cave becomes much 

 more lofty and widens at a distance of from twelve to sixteen feet 

 from the mouth. It then forms a gallery six to ten feet wide which 

 pursues a generally straight course, terminating at forty-nine feet 

 from the mouth. Before this termination is reached, however, 



