361 
Immediately north of Newtown Head, at the point where a gradual 
rise takes place in the cliff, the greater part of a human skeleton was 
found resting on its back, five feet three inches below the surface, 
and about the same distance above high-water level, in the centre 
of the shelly bed. ‘The Cardium edule was as numerous in and around 
the skeleton as in other portions of the bed, many of them being 
lodged in the cavity of the skull. Mr. Austin carefully examined 
the conditions under which the skeleton was found, and he is con- 
vinced that the ground had never been disturbed for sepulture, the 
continuity of the shelly bed being unbroken where the skeleton oc- 
curred, and no specimens of the Cardium edule being dispersed at 
random through the incumbent loam. He is therefore of opinion, 
that the body was washed into the estuary during the period when 
the shelly bed was accumulated; that it was arrested at the point 
where it has been found by the rise in the level of the bed; and 
that consequently an elevation of the country has taken place since 
the commencement of the human period. 
From an extended examination Mr. Austin is convinced, that the 
estuary now limited to Waterford Haven formerly covered a much 
larger area, as proved, in part, by the patches of shells noticed above ; 
and that the change of relative level has been slow and uniform, 
producing no local disturbances ; and he is further of opinion, that 
the operation may be still in progress 
Mr. Austin then gives a general description of the geological 
structure of the two shores of Waterford Haven and of the adjacent 
districts. The formations consist of mountain-limestone, old red 
sandstone, schistose strata, considered to be of the age of the Silu- 
rian system on account of the fossils found near Duncannon Fort 
and Newtown Head, and trap rocks. 
‘The mountain-limestone constitutes Hook Point, the southernmost 
headland of the Wexford side of the Haven. It is succeeded to the 
north, conformably, by a red or yellow sandstone, containing obscure 
vegetable remains, also thin seams and nodules of anthracite, like- 
wise some small masses of black copper ore. These beds are assigned 
by the author to the upper part of the old red sandstone. They are 
succeeded in regular descending order by various marls, sandstones 
and conglomerates, composing the mass of the formation, and esti- 
mated to be 1600 feet thick. A series of contorted and tilted slaty 
beds are then presented; but at Broom. Hill, the conglomerates of 
the old red sandstone reappear with the same dip towards the south. 
Immediately north of this promontory the slates recommence, and 
are displayed in unconformable juxta-position with the old red sand- 
stone, the latter dipping southwards, and the former at a higher angle 
nerthwards. From Broom Head to Arthurstown the slates consti- 
_ tute the whole line of coast, except at Duncannon Fort. The strata 
are, for the greater part, variously contorted; but near Arthurstown 
they dip 70° to the north, and are overlaid by beds of old red sand- 
stone, which also dip to the north, but at an angle of only 30°: At- 
Duncannon Fort an impure limestone occurs, containing Trilobites, 
corals and testacea, and considered by Mr. Austin to be analogous 
to species found in the Silurian system. 
