436 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
LVIII.—Fuint Imprements rrom tHE Nortu-Kast or Irenanp. By 
W. J. Kyowres. (Plates XXII. and XXIII.) 
[Read, June 22, 1885.] 
In a previous Paper read before the Academy on June 11, 1883, I 
endeavoured to show that certain flakes and other worked flints from 
the north-east coast of Ireland were older than the neolithic age. 
Since that time I have given considerable attention to the subject, 
and would now beg leave to present a further report of my investiga- 
tions in proof of that theory. 
Tre Ratsep Bracu.—I stated in my former Paper that I had 
found boulder clay on the surface of the raised beach, and also mixed 
up with the stones beneath the surface in some places.1. [I was aware 
that Mr. G. H. Kinahan, M. R. I. A., had stated that Esker drifts 
were sometimes found on low ground ;? and I ventured to express the 
opinion that the long ridge-like formation known as the Curran might 
be rather of the nature of an Esker than an ordinary raised beach ; 
that, though only twenty-five feet above high water-line, it might be 
older than the ordinary twenty-five feet raised beach; but I did not 
mean to deny that there was a raised beach at all, as some seem 
to imagine. Anyone can see that the shore has been raised, and with 
it not only the gravelly formation at Larne, but the chalk, las, and 
every other formation along the north-east coast. 
I have no wish to set up my own views on a geological question 
against the opinion of experienced geologists ;* and I shall not, there- 
fore, on the present occasion, make any reference to the question of 
the boulder clay bemg found in connexion with the gravels, but 
content myself with my former position, that the worked flints, being 
found at all depths of the various sections, cannot be classed as surface 
objects, and are therefore older than neolithic implements as defined 
by our highest authorities. In addition to this I can give very good 
proof of the age of the implements, without making any reference to 
the age of the gravelly formation of the raised beach. 
Tue Workep Frits rrom tHE Ratsep Bracu.—TI have found 
flakes, cores, and large pear-shaped implements at various depths in 
the gravel ;+ but among these there are no arrow-heads, scrapers,® 
quartzite hammer-stones, or smaller chips, such as we meet with in 
1 Ante, p. 209. 
2 Geology of Ireland, p. 226. 
3 Mr. Kinahan has informed me that I cannot look on the raised beach at 
Larne as any older than the ordinary twenty-five feet beach. 
4 T have not yet found any of the longish pointed implements in sitz. 
> Rev. G. R. Buick has obtained one very large scraper, but unlike our 
undoubted neolithic scrapers in many respects. 
