Kyownres—On Pre-historic Implements, Se. 107 
such cases where the layer has been removed by denudation.' It is 
generally from three or four to about twelve inches in thickness, and 
I have obtained from it a great quantity of objects precisely similar to 
those which I found exposed in the hollows. In excavating, however, 
unless one happens on the site of a dwelling-place, the work may be 
unprofitable and disheartening. The weight of sand above, which 
falls down in large quantities when only slightly undermined, makes 
excavating difficult, and without the greatest care a small object like 
an arrow-head, or small beads such as I have found at Portstewart, 
would escape notice. Where I have found the layer laid bare, 1 
generally dug it over myself, using the greatest possible care, and 
allowing nothing to pass without minute examination. At Dundrum, 
owing to the large surface—several miles in extent—which required 
to be examined, I confined my attention at first to the objects exposed 
on the sand, merely satisfying myself as to the nature of the layer as 
I went along; but in August of last year I was fortunate enough in 
finding the site of one of those ancient dwelling-places, which I exca- 
vated. I found it to contain three finely-dressed scrapers, of a larger 
size than usual ; a fine flat flake dressed over the back and partly on 
the flat side; a specimen of a similar kind, which had been in the fire ; 
another long, thin, and knife-like flake; besides other flakes, cores, 
hammer stones, broken pottery, and bones. ‘There was also a fine 
stone hatchet, 74 inches long, made of handsome, hard, greenish stone, 
and finely polished, which appeared never to have been used, and 
looked just as if fresh from the maker’s hands. There was, besides, a 
stone somewhat circular in shape, and about three inches in diameter, 
with a pit or hollow on one side, like those pits which we find on oval 
tool-stones. I had previously found stones more or less pitted, in 
different parts of the hills, as well as at Portstewart and Ballintoy, 
associated with flakes, cores, and hammer stones, but was only able to 
guess at the object of them. I was inclined to look on them as oval 
tool-stones in an early stage of manufacture, and I think I can show 
that I was correct enough in that view; but it now occurred to me, 
from finding hammer stones, cores, and flakes so closely associated with 
this pitted stone, that it had been used as a rest or anvil on which to 
lay the core when chipping off the flakes. 
After the account of my find of flint implements appeared in the 
local papers, I learned that the Marchioness of Downshire was taking 
a good deal of interest in the subject, and was forming a collection of 
the flint objects found among the Dundrum Sandhills. Being anxious 
not to be regarded as a trespasser, and wishing to explain my reasons 
1 Mr. William Gray, of Belfast, in a Paper contributed to the Royal Historical 
and Archeological Association, in July, 1879, and appearing in No. 39 of their 
Journal, says that the objects are found on the black layers, because being tougher 
than the sand above and below, they stand out as ledges and arrest the descent 
of the flints, &c., which are constantly slipping down from the top. I have no 
doubt that a little attentive study on the spot will convince Mr. Gray that this is 
not the case, 
