Plunkett — On a Long JBarrotc in the Co. Fermanagh. 325 



requisite, I set to work, and, finding that sinking a shaft would be 

 impracticable, in consequence of the enormous size of the stones, I 

 commenced to make a cutting or trench in the side of the barrow, on 

 a level with the base, and about 12 feet wide. After we had excavated 

 a little beyond the centre, across the monument, we then made an 

 opening about the same width at right angles with the trench across, 

 right up the centre of the barrow, towards the larger end, which 

 was the most likely place to find a cist or chamber containing ob- 

 jects of interest. 



"When we had progressed with the work as far as the " crown," as 

 I may call it, of the large end of the mound, I discovered, 3 feet from 

 the surface, at the centre, carefully built between two large stones, 

 and covered with a heavy rough flag, the peculiar stone hereafter de- 

 scribed. This "find" inspired me with hope. Day after day I watched 

 with eager eye every ponderous flag or block of stone levered out of 

 their long resting place, until we finally reached the end of the bar- 

 row, when hope fled. 



Every layer of flags in the structure was closely joined together at 

 the edges, but did not overlap, and the interstices were carefully filled 

 with very thin stones or spawls, as if to prevent rain water passing 

 through. Notwithstanding all this care, I did not meet with a single 

 chamber or cist, or any implement, or work of art, either rude or 

 otherwise, except the inscribed stone which I shall allude to pre- 

 sently. 



I may here describe the order in which the stones were placed in 

 the structure. The base was formed of huge quadrangular unhewn 

 blocks of stone, which varied from about 4 to 6 tons in weight. From 

 the hard compact nature of these blocks, the quarry-men called them 

 "whin-stone." A heavy sledge, well wielded, would not produce a 

 fracture in any of them. I believe the stones were hard impure lime- 

 stone, with a large percentage of silica ; and, although they did not 

 bear the slightest evidence of being either chiseled or hammered, yet 

 they fitted together as closely as the horizontal layers in a limestone 

 quarry, or the square pavement stones in the streets of one of our 

 cities. The next layer consisted of large flags, rather rough and of 

 irregular shape, placed in a gentle sloping position, the side next the 

 centre of the structure being slightly elevated. Next followed a 

 course of square blocks, as above described, and so on to the top of the 

 structure, every alternate layer being composed of flags. Although the 

 flags in the interior of the structure did not overlap each other, the 

 surface of the mound was covered over with rough flags, which were 

 overlapped, like tiles on a roof. 



It is very difficult to conjecture why this mound was constructed 

 with so much care, when there was nothing beneath its surface to 

 preserve, at least so far as I excavated. 



I did not explore the small end of the mound, as I was prohibited 

 doing so. The owner's wife took ill, and as he fancied that it was iu 

 consequence of the "fort" being interfered with, I had to desist, 



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