Plunkett — On the E.rpJomtloii of the Kitddmiiniy Care. 4(>"') 



XLIII. — On the Exploration of the Kxocknixny Cave. By T. 

 Plunkett. With an Account of the Animal Remains. By Rev. 

 Professor Haughton, M. D., F. R. S., and Professor Macalistee, 

 M. D. 



[Read 24th January, 1876.] 



Through the pen of Mrs. Hall, as well as some otlicr writers, who 

 were less graphic in their delineations, Lough Erne is far-famed for 

 its beautiful and varied scenery, combining almost everything that is 

 lovely and picturesque in nature — the very sight of which is cal- 

 culated to produce the " joy of elevated thoughts," and inspire feelings 

 that only a Wordsworth could adequately pourtray. 



In an archaeological point of view, it is also very interesting, 

 as, scattered round its shores and some of its numerous islands, there 

 are a number of rude stone monuments, of unknown antiquity. There 

 are also numerous remains of an early Christian people, who must 

 have attained a high level of culture and civilization, as the architec- 

 ture of their chiu'ches and monasteries — even in their hoary ruins — 

 testify, together with the round tower of Devenish Island, which 

 is one of the finest in Ireland ; but, according to Mr. Bourke's theories, 

 enunciated in his late work (Aryan Origin of the Celtic Race), the 

 round towers must be removed from their recognised place in the 

 architectural history of the country, and pushed back into the dark 

 mysterious past, or pre-Christian times. 



The cave, and its interesting contents, the subject of this paper, 

 add a new feature to the antiquities found in the valley of Lough 

 Erne, and probably, in some respects, it is unique in Europe. As far 

 as I can ascertain, the large cinerary urn (fig. 7), which I found in an 

 upper stratum of the cave-earth, containing burnt human bones, is the 

 first of this kind found in any cave in Europe. 



Knockninny, the name of the rocky hill where the cave occurs, 

 rises abruptly on the southern shore of Upper Lough Erne, ten miles 

 from Enniskillen, and two from the village of Derrylin. Its elevation 

 is neary 700 feet above sea level ; and, speaking in the language of 

 geologists, was recently an island. It is bounded on the north-east 

 side by the waters of Lough Erne, and south-west by a flat alluvial 

 plain, including some patches of bog. 



On approaching the hill by the road from the west side, it pre- 

 sents a bold and majestic appearance, calculated to inspire feelings of 

 awe. Owing to these natural features, probably, the early Pagans 

 regarded it as a sacred spot, and chose it as the last resting-place for 

 their departed chiefs, and not of one alone, but of several tribes, as we 

 may infer from the fact that three dift'erent modes of sepulture are 

 found on its summit, including the cinerary urn found in the cave. 



On three rockv hillocks, at intervals along its top, there are 



