Wkstropp — The Fort of Dun Aengusa in Inishmore, Aran. 45 



era ; but " so careful an antiquary as Eev. Charles Henry Hartshomc " con- 

 sidered it of monastic origin. The pillars of the chevaux de /rise were worn 

 into deep digitations ; the bronze acus of a fibula of the " spring pin type " 

 was found by Mr. Wakeman ; and in the autumn of 1893 the author found in 

 a rabbit-earth a small hinged ring of a bronze pin, though the acus was missing. 

 It had a cable decoration, and there is a socket opposite the hinge for some 

 kind of setting." The Dublin Museum has one inferior pin-ring. The British 

 Museum has a perfect example. It dates from the fifth to the tenth century. 

 In the enclosure of Dun Aenghus, not far from the spot where the bronze pin 

 was found, the author picked up a leaf-shaped arrow-head of chert, from 

 which minute flakes had been chipped, and also a small piece of true flint 

 worked up. These favour the pre-Christian origin of the fort.' 



The Restoration.^ 



The subject of the restoration (rather than " conservation ") of Dun 

 Aengusa has excited so much distrust, severe criticism, and strong assertion, 

 that one who studied the fort before the event is to some degree compelled to 

 " find a verdict." The unnecessary rebuilding and levelling up of parts of 

 the walls and the " tidy " and new appearance thereby produced, show how 

 desirable it was that the work should have been constantly imder the super- 

 vision and direction of an antiquary who had studied our ring- walls carefully. 

 Left to non-antiquaries and the natives, the work was of course done un- 

 sympathetically, like repairing a fence, and no steps were taken to difterentiate 

 the old work from the new, or (I understand) to secure any f id.1 record of the 

 structure in its untouched condition. Anyone, however, who studies the 

 above accounts, especially the tabular statement of the authorities for each 

 feature, must arrive at the conclusion that very little " falsification " took 

 place. In fact (save the two flights to the south of the gate in the inner 

 fort, and the upper flight in the north-east'), all the features are attested. 

 Even the unrecorded steps (as we suggested) had probably warrant in existing 

 bottom steps, and long blocks in the debris. In this case, as at Dunbeg, want 

 of accurate reports has led antiquaries to a judgment too severe to be 

 justified by the evidence against the restorers. 



The Appendix to the 48th Eeport of the Commissioners of Public Works 



' Stone implemeuts were also found at Caherbloniok near Corofin, and Cahermackmolo (Cnher- 

 mackirilla), in Carran, Co. Clare, both in reputed Firbolg neighbourhoods. See B.S.A.I. Journal, 

 vol. xxviii., p. 2G4, and xxv., p. 20S. 



- The fort was vested as a " National Monument " by order of the Iri^U Chun h Temporalities 

 Commissioners, October 30th, ISSO. 



'Even the latter may be implied in Most Kev. Dr. Couroy's account. Hce above. 



R. I. .4. PROC, VOL. XXVUl., SECT. 0. [7J 



