578 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



terminated the lateral walls of the " Cella," and he gives as an 

 example the little temple of Themis at Rhamnus. 



Eoulin further states that he had presented to the Academy of 

 Sciences, in February, 1829, a Memoir on the Antas of Portugal, and 

 the significations of the word, wherein he showed that more than a 

 century before the voyage of Columbus the words Atite, Anta, Banta, 

 had, in the entire peninsular, the double meaning which, at present, 

 the word Buffle has in French. That is to say that they were applied 

 to a thick leather prepared in a particular manner, as well also as to 

 the animal, the skin of which was best capable of receiving this mode 

 of treatment. 



During a very lengthy period there was used, in industry, almost 

 exclusively for this purpose, the hide of a ruminant peculiar to the 

 northern countries, I'Elan (Cervis Alces) ; but the manufactured pro- 

 duct came from the South in the course of commerce with Germany 

 and the Low Countries, and it is from the name which it bore in the 

 German dialects that has been formed, that which it receives in Spanish 

 and in Portuguese ; from the German Elendthier, BJllen, Elendt, or 

 rather the old Dutch Allant, BJelandt, there was formed, by separating 

 from the two words, the first syllable (mistaken for an article) Ante or 

 Anta, both still in use, that used in Spain being applied to any sort of 

 leather applicable for equipment purposes. 



At p. 181 of his work on Spain and Portugal Cartaillac points out 

 the surprising ignorance that seems to reign in Spain as regards the 

 megalithic crypts ; he states that in Estremadura they are known as 

 Garitas by the countiy people, and adds "that is all they know of 

 them." Speaking of the term Area (properly speaking the tombs), 

 he states in a note : — " It is unnecessary to point out the meaning of the 

 words garitas, areas, as they are synonymous of easa, little house, 

 shelter. 



Lastly, at p. 186, he gives a very full description of the megalithic 

 tomb of Antequera, of which he says, "J'arrive au plus celebre des 

 tombeaux megalithiques de I'Espagne certainement 1' un des plus beaux 

 de toute I'Europe." Le nompopulaire de cette crypte encore portegee 

 par son vaste tumulus est la Cueva de Mengal, on a longuement deserte 

 sur ce nom de mengal sans aboutir a aucun resultat. 



From these citations may not something clear be drawn as to the 

 word Anta, or Antas, or Ante. 



1st. That it forms the first half of the name Ante-quera (or Cueva 

 de Mengal) the most celebrated Spanish megalithic tomb existing. 



2nd. That in all probability its signification is the same as that 



