Coffey — Double- Cist Grave and Remains in Co. Meath. 749 



all these are outside measurements. When found, with the exception 

 of some fine mould partly caked towards one side, it was empty. Ko 

 trace of fire was apparent in the cist or on the inside of the urn. The 

 greater part of the boue mixed with the earth taken from the chambers 

 was so completely decomposed as to be indistinguishable save by its 

 colour ; a few particles picked out crumbled away in the fingers. 

 Owing to the fact that the covering stone had not been raised — it 

 being Colonel Coddington's desire to preserve the cist intact as found — 



Fig. 4. 



it was not possible to get inside the chambers to make a hand search. 

 But on searching some spadefuls of earth from the floors of the chambers, 

 I obtained the enamel crowns of several human teeth from the northern 

 chamber — that in which tbe urn was found — and the crowns of two 

 teeth from the southern chamber. The bone of the teeth in both 

 cases had decomposed, leaving the enameled parts as cup-like shells. 

 These I submitted to Dr. C. R. Brown of the Anthropological Department 

 of Trinity College. Having compared them with sets in the Anthro- 

 pological Museum of the College, he was of opinion that the teeth 

 from the north, or urn chamber, were those of a male of about forty 

 years of age, and those from the other chamber, of a young female. 

 Dr. Browne further submitted the specimens to Air. Gerard Black, 

 L.D.S., without saying what he thought of them. Mr. Black inde- 

 pendently confirmed Dr. Brown's opinion. 



These matters are mentioned in detail, lest it might appear that a 



