34 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
The striking points of similarity between the circumstances of the 
Larne interment and that of the skeleton first obtained at Donnybrook 
would range them in a close relationship as to the time of their oceur- 
rence; and the class of warrior thus buried, the absence of coffin, stone 
cyst or other covering, the superficial interment of the skeletons— 
both lying in a northerly position on the soil, and having clay thrown 
over them, the burying with the bodies of their iron double-edged 
swords and iron lancée-heads, are all of them so identical in character 
that one description would serve for both; nor was a bronze ring pin 
wanting at Donnybrook, though it was found at some distance in the 
mound subsequently. They differ principally in this, that the sword 
now obtained, from the rich gold and silver ornamentation of its hilt, 
would appear to have belonged to some chieftain of elevated rank; 
and we may believe that the female remains found buried at his feet 
are additional witnesses to the esteem in which his followers held him, 
and the penalty exacted for his loss. At all events this interment, 
though to some extent kept separate from the rest, and distinguished 
by the presence of arms, was in intimate connexion with the others in 
the mound. ‘The bones lay on the same level upon the soil, and one 
common clay covering was over all. As the exhuming advanced, the 
great abundance of human bones that became exposed showed what a 
number of slain individuals composed the one great heap. Calculat- 
ing roughly, it may be asserted that upwards of 600 beings must have 
been buried together, and this calculation is certainly under the real 
total. Towards the eastern side of the mound, which was the last part 
excavated, it was ascertained that the lowermost layer of human bodies 
had been there arranged with tolerable uniformity. Dr. Macalister 
and I uncovered at least two such rows placed one behind the other, 
with their heads pointing westward and their feet to the east; 
the skeletons lay in close apposition side by side; above these was a 
second layer of dead thrown down in every possible direction, and then 
there was a stratum of young bones, which formed the upper division 
or third superimposed layer of the mass, appearing as if they were 
pitched in upon the top of the others. These young skeletons were 
found in considerable numbers towards the eastern side of the mound; 
indeed it was not until more than half of it was excavated that the 
remains of children became conspicuous and attracted attention from 
their frequent recurrence. The parts of the mound first opened 
disclosed principally adult remains, which seemed heaped together 
regardless of order and lay in all possible positions. With rare ex- 
ceptions, the entire of the skeletons were gathered within a circular 
space of 34 to 40 feet in circumference; still for about 15 feet 
further towards the south as the trench advanced, a few skeletons, 
either isolated or where they had fallen in small groups, continued 
to turn up, but beyond this no more were obtained; thus human 
remains were lying about until the excavations reached upwards 
of 60 feet through the mound, after which none were seen, though 
the trenching was continued for a total length of 1380 feet. The 
