Coffey — Monuments of the La Thie Period. 265 



stones. It is more geometrical, the incised patterns in particular 

 being of the interlocked C- scheme order frequently found on our eai-ly 

 Christian monuments. 



When I first saw a rubbing of this stone, I was on that account 

 inclined to regard it as belonging to the Christian period, and con- 

 jectured that it might be a practice-piece or specimen of work. On 

 seeing the stone I abandoned that opinion. The monument is complete 

 in itself, and there is nothing of a Christian character about it to 

 connect it with the Christian period. 



It is necessary to describe the carving in some detail. On the 

 slanting top of the stone a characteristic Celtic whorl of the triskele 

 type is carved in relief; it is probably symbolic in intention. The 

 principal face, which we will call a, is carved in relief, with the 

 exception of the bottom panel. The upper half of the face is occupied 

 by a pointed oval panel enclosing two spirals, set obliquely on the 

 stone. The treatment of the spaces in this panel is characteristic of 

 La Tene III. Below this panel is a band of ornament which has 

 unfortunately suffered much from weathering and injury ; the late 

 La Tene character of the design is, however, apparent. Below this is 

 a curious zigzag fret, and below that is a panel divided x-wise by 

 incised lines. The stone is a good deal injured, and the surface flaked 

 off at the left side, but the restoration of the design, fig. 7, is 

 probably fairly correct. 



Taking the faces in order from left to right, face b is the next. 

 E'early half this face has been broken off at the right side. The 

 design appears to have been an oval panel filled with incised trumpet 

 pattern. At the top and at the bottom traces of carving in relief are 

 noticeable, and the border framing the oval was also in relief. 



Face c has lost nearly all its carving. Large pieces have been 

 split off it, leaving only a portion of the upper end intact. Here a 

 single spiral is carved in relief. The carving on this face was, no 

 doubt, chiefly in relief, and it should be noticed that it is opposite to a, 

 also carved in relief. 



Face d. — Here again we have an arrangement after the manner of 

 face h. The centre is covered with incised trumpet-pattern, while 

 above and below the carving is in relief. The upper carving consists 

 of a triangular panel, injured by cuts where the stone has been used as 

 a sharpening stone ; the lower is a good piece of La Tene ornament. 



It is not certain whether or not the incised patterns are finished, 

 or were intended to be carved in relief. But however that may be, 

 there is no doubt that, notwithstanding their late look, they are 



