Plunkett & Coffey — Topped Mountain Cairn. 653 



teing sunk about a foot, and lined inside the bearing stones on the 

 outer side. (See accompanying plan.) 



The 'inside measurements of the cist were : — Length, 4 feet ; 

 hreadth at middle, 2 feet 6 inches ; height, 2 feet. Cap-stone, 5 feet 

 by 3 feet 6 inches by 1 foot. At the south end a smaller cap-stone was 

 placed where the large stone did not quite cover 

 the cist. The bottom was covered with clay, and 

 was very damp. This rendered the examination 

 of the contents of the grave somewhat difficult. 



At the south end were the much decayed 

 fragments of a skull. About the middle were a 

 few fragments of long bones. At the right 

 side of the skull lay the bronze dagger (fig. 2), 

 the point to the south. In the same place was 

 found a small band of gold (fig. 3). It appears 

 to be half of a band of that metal that was 

 probably round the handle of the dagger. 

 Though careful search was made, no further 

 fragment of this gold band was found. At 

 the left side of where the body would have 

 lain (c on plan of grave), were the fragments of 



a richly-decorated 

 urn of the" food- 

 vessel " type (fig. 

 4). It had suffered 

 greatly from damp, 



Fig. 2 (h size) 



Fig. 3 (full size), 

 but the upper part, bottom, and portions of the sides were recovered, 

 :and have been put together with sufficient completeness to show the 

 form and decoration. 



E.I. A. PEOC. SEE. ni., VOL. IV. 



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