Coffey — Monuments of the La T^ne Period. 259 



lution is an expression, is based on the assumption that Ireland being 

 more remote from the Continent than Britain, was loss within reach 

 of Continental influence in early times. I have combated this view 

 elsewhere.^ The fact that Danubian types, such as the conical caldron 

 and late Bronze Age swords, are so well represented in Ireland, in 

 itself contradicts the assumption. The geographical argument must be 

 used with caution and knowledge. Trade does not necessarily follow 

 the lines of nearest geographical contact. It is chiefly determined by 

 the objects desired, and convenience of transit and of market centres. 

 The frequent intercourse between Ireland and Gaul in early Christian 

 times, fifth-seventh centuries, need not be insisted on. The chief 

 point of landing appears to have been the river Loire. The central 

 lands of France, to which the Loire gives ready access, were much 

 frequented by the first Irish Christians. We hear of them at Auxerre, 

 at Autun (close to the ancient Bibracte), at Luxeuil.^ It was from 

 Nantes that St. Columbanus was deported to Ireland in a ship " quce 

 vexerat commercia cum Hiherniay^ In Roman times Ireland was 

 believed to lie between Britain and Spain, and is mentioned as 

 "favourably situated as regards the Gallic Sea."* 



The Hallstatt sword can be traced westward across Gaul, and has 

 lately been found as far west as Poitou.^ We have possibly an 

 indication here that the Loire was a point of departure for Ireland as 

 early as the end of the Bronze Age. 



It is not, however, the purpose of this Paper to discuss the question 

 of trade routes, but to describe a new class of La Tene monuments 

 recently discovered in Ireland, the first examples of La Tene carving 

 in stone, I believe, which have been brought to light. 



Some two years ago Lord Walter Pitz Gerald showed me a rubbing 

 of a stone he had discovered at Mullaghmast, in the County Kildare. 

 The carving on the stone was of the form we are accustomed to call 

 in Ireland trumpet-pattern, and I was at once struck by its early 

 character. As the stone had been removed from its original position, 

 I urged on Lord Walter the importance of securing such an interesting 

 monument for the Museum. He gladly undertook to do so if possible. 

 At his instance the stone was presented to the Koyal Irish Academy 



1 Journ. R.S.A.I., 1895, p. 23. 



2 Margaret Stokes, Trans. R.I.A., vol. xxx., p. 286. 



3 Reeves's " Adainnan," p. 37. 

 * Tacitus, " Agricola," cap. 24. 



5 Revue Archeologique, 4 ser., vol. ii. (1903), p. 56. 



PROC, VOL. XXIV., !SEC. c] [-(^J 



