262 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



spear-shafts, fig. 4. The hlades of the spears were of iron.^ An iron 



spear-head, found at Corofin, Co. Clare, likewise shows the fret-form; 

 the borders of the openings ia the blade are inlaid with bronze,^ fig. 5. 

 The fret-pattern at the bottom of the Tnroe stone, it will be 

 observed, is similar in treatment to those on the Marne pottery. It is, 

 in fact, the same as fig. 2, no. 4, brought closer together. Again, the 

 scroll-work may be compared with that of the torques figured by 

 Morel, pi. 37. The feeling of the work is very similar. A relation- 

 ship of the highest interest is thus established between the Turoe stone 

 and the style of the Marne district. Our knowledge of the La Tene 



1 



fl^Jg 



''^ 



1 "' 1 





2 



111!=, 



HI .^ 



4 







Fig. 2. 



period in Ireland is still very imperfect. We cannot say whether 

 Tischler's classification holds good for Ireland or not, or how far we 

 have to allow for survivals. But the preceding considerations preclude, 

 in my opinion, a late date being assigned to this stone, and induce me 

 to place it as early at least as La Tene II., or possibly the later half of 

 La Tene I. 



The Castle Strange Stone. — This stone is also an erratic, of the same 

 class of granite as the Turoe stone. It is at present in the demesne 



1 Journal R. Soc. Ant. Ir., vol. xvi., p. 395. One of the s'word- sheaths from 

 Lisnacrogher is figiired by Lindenschmit, "Alt. u. h. Vorz," iii., Heft, iii, Taf. 3, 

 from the specimen in the British Museum. It is erroneously stated to be from 

 the Thames. 



^ This specimen is the property of Mr. Mark Patterson, of Corofin, and has not 

 been published before. 



