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IV. 



ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDEXCE FOR THE IXTEECOUESE OF GAUL 

 WITH IRELAND BEFORE THE FIRST CENTURY. 



By GEORGE COFFEY. 



Bead FsnauARY H. Ordered for publication Febrvary 16. Published Antii, S, 1910. 



A Paper on some monuments of the La Tene Period, which I had lately 

 discovered in Ireland, and which were the first of that class known in 

 Europe, was read before the Academy in 1903.' These interesting stones 

 (three) were there described and fully illustrated in detail. I may recall a 

 few general observations made. 



It lias been a habit of mind with English archaeologists to regard the 

 periods in Ireland as later than those in Piritain anil the styles as derived 

 therefrom. 



This theory is based on the assumption that Ireland, lying more remote 

 from the Continent than Britain, was less within the reach of Continental 

 influences in early times. I had, as I remarked, combated this view else- 

 where.' Many Bronze Age tj-pes in Ireland contradict it. The geographical 

 ai-gument must be used with caution. Trade docs not always follow the 

 lines of nearest geographical approach. Even in early times it is chiefly 

 determined by the objects sought, and by the positions of meeting centres or 

 markets. The frequent intcrcoui-se between Ireland and Gaul in early 

 Christian times — fifth to seventh centuries — was mentioned. Intercourse by 

 way of the Loire was recognized. We hear of the firet Irish Clu'istians at 

 Auxerre, at Autun, at Luxeuil ; and Irish trade was known at Nantes in the 

 sixth century. This was probably an old way long in use. In Roman times 

 Ireland was believed to be between Britain and Spain, and is mentioned by 

 Tacitus as " favourably situated as regards the Gallic Sea." 



The stones, which are from dififerent parts of the country, were of the 

 .same general period ; but one I thought might be late, approaching 400 A.D. ; 

 the other two were certainly earlier, and one of them I definitely ascribed to 

 La Tene II, both from the border of fret-pattem on the base, and the free 

 scroll-forms of the general ornament: the trumpet-ends not yet being a 



' Proe. R. I. A., vol. xxiv., Sect. C, p. 2-77. 



'Journal R. S. A. I., vols, xxiv.-xxvii. " Origins of I'rcbistoric Omnment in Ireland." See also 

 "Irish Copper Celt*," Journal of Anthropological Institute, vol. xxxi., p. 265, and "Copper 

 Halberts," Proe. R. I. A., toI. xxvii., sect. C, p. 9t. See especially p. III. 



