CONWELL — On the Cemetery of Taillten. 93 



what had then become mystic characters on the pyramids of Egypt ; 

 and, if we doubt the possibility of such another lucky accident leading 

 to the interpretation of the characters on the inscribed stones in 

 this and the adjoining cams, as well as analogously inscribed stones 

 in earns in other countries, may we not at least reasonably hope 

 that by collecting them, and closely analysing and comparing the 

 analogies of the characters, the mystery of which is at present impene- 

 trable to us, every line, and cup, and curve, and figure on these monu- 

 ments of the past, will assume a definite and distinct meaning ? But 

 it, unfortunately, too frequently happens in our days tbat those who 

 wish to prosecute such studies want the necessary time and leisure to 

 doit; and those, upon the other hand, who possess both the oppor- 

 tunity and the ability, do not want to do it. It would be idle to sup- 

 pose, as some have done, that these markings are nothing more than 

 childish amusements. The forms and the arrangements of many of 

 them appear to indicate a symbolic character, and thus refute the 

 idea of their being intended, as others assert, for mere ornamenta- 

 tion. 



Judging from the memorials of the past which have come down to 

 us, there appears to have been at all times, and, indeed, in every 

 country, even before the invention of letters, a craving in the human 

 breast, just as we find it to be the case in our own days, to perpetuate 

 memories. Should we hope, in the slow school of archaeology, here- 

 after to be able to unravel the meaning of the inscribed records of the 

 age of stone-literature, if we may be allowed the use of such an 

 expression in reference to ancient rock-markings, we must for the 

 present be satisfied to accumulate these characters largely, even with- 

 out understanding them, or too closely investigating their meaning ; 

 and, when the number of these collected elements shall be found 

 sufficient, then some future student of archaeology will, undoubtedly, 

 be able, by careful analogies and comparisons, to render the solution 

 of their meaning not only possible but practicable, from the considera- 

 tion of these assembled elements. The following inscriptions on the 

 stones in Ollamh Fodhla's tomb are here given, in the fullest confidence 

 that this hope will soon be realized. 



With each stone numbered for reference in the descriptions which 

 are to follow, we submit a ground plan of the interior of Ollamh 

 Fodhla's tomb (see next page). 



The long passage and the tricameral arrangement round a central 

 octagonal chamber give the general outline the appearance of a cross, 

 which shape, judging from the internal arrangements in most of the 

 other earns on Sliabh-na-Caillighe, as well as at New Grange and 

 Dowth, in the same county, appears to have been the favourite form 

 adopted by our pagan ancestors in the construction of the tombs of 

 their great people. 



The passage has an average breadth of three feet, and is seventeen 

 feet in length ; while the distance from the commencement of the 

 passage to the farthest extremity of the opposite chamber is twenty- 



