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XXI. 



STUDIES IN IRISH CRANIOLOGY : III. A NEOLITHIC 

 CIST BUmAL AT OLDBEIDGE, COUNTY OE MEATH. 

 Bt ALERED C. HADDON, II.A., D.Sc. 



(Plate XII.) 



[EeadJAxxJAHY 25, 1897.] 



A TEAK ago I had the pleasure of examining, in company with l\Ir. 

 G. Coffey, a cist in the property of Lt.-Col. J. Coddington, J. P., at 

 Oldbridge, Drogheda, county Meath. 



The cist was accidentally discovered on December 20, 1889, in 

 removing some stones which interfered with the ploughing of the 

 field in which it occurs. It is situated on the top of a hill locally 

 called " The Mountain," and Colonel Coddington has very wisely 

 erected a wooden shed around the monument in order to preserve it. 

 He has also affixed to the door of the shed a metal plate on which is 

 stamped a record of the find. 



The cist is built up of four slabs of stone resting on the ground 

 which supported a large covering slab. The cavity measures some 

 3 feet 2 inches (970 mm.) in length ; 1 foot 9 inches (535 mm.) in 

 breadth, and 1 foot 6 inches (460 mm.) in depth. The long axis is 

 orientated about N.E. by E. The stones are of local origin ; the 

 covering- stone is a greenish flag, and is pitted on its original 

 under- surface with four depressions which are rather like cup- 

 markings. 



In the south-west comer there were found the cranium, which I 

 am about to desciibe, and close to it an urn containing some burnt 

 ashes. In the centre of the cist were heaped six large bones with 

 fragments of smaller ones on the top. Marks of fire were observed 

 on the sides of the cist, and on the under side of the covering 

 slab. The cranium and urn are now in the possession of Colonel 

 Coddington. 



Mr. Coffey has kindly assisted me in drawing up the following 



