656 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



at intervals at depths of from about 4 feet down to the bottom of the 

 cairn. 



July 6th. — The face of the excavation was cleared along the 

 central line to a depth of 16 feet at the centre. At the south end a 

 number of large stones were disclosed, placed on end, with two cross 

 stones, the whole arranged as on plan (c). Between the two innermost 

 upright stones a small flag-stone was placed on which remains of 

 burning, charcoal and burnt clay, were found. Similar evidence of 

 burning was found in the central cist-like enclosure, but no certain 

 evidence of any interment. No covering stones were found in con- 

 nexion with this structure. 



tTuly 8th turned out wet, and work was stopped, 



July 9th. — The excavation was continued past the centre. At a 

 distance of 8 feet past the central line, and a depth oE 10 feet 

 from the top of the cairn, burnt matter and charcoal was found on a 

 flag-stone, protected by a couple of upright flags. In this spot a few 

 minute particles of burnt bones were found, and a few small frag- 

 ments of pottery. A few particles of burnt bones were also found at 

 some distance east of this spot ; also a few particles of pottery. 



The fragments of bones in these cases were quite soft, resembling 

 small pieces of lime in the wet clay, but in a few instances they could 

 be identified as burnt bones by the characteristically cracked surfaces 

 of the fragments. The pieces of pottery were soft and soap-like. 

 They did not show any traces of ornament, and resembled more the 

 plain sort of pottery found in the sand-hills of the north of Ireland 

 than sepulchral pottery, but the fragments were too small to speak of 

 positively. 



July 10th. — The excavation of the cairn, as far as was considered 

 desirable, was concluded on this day. At the south side, about 4 

 feet in from the slope, a deposit of burnt bones and a stone celt were 

 found (d). Mr. Plunkett, who alone was present at this find, thus 

 describes it : — The burnt bones lay on a small flag-stone, with 

 charcoal matter, as in former cases. If protecting stones had been 

 placed around the deposit, they had apparently been crushed down by 

 the weight of the overlying stones, as no indication of such was 

 seen. Among the bones and matter adhering to the flag was found a 

 small stone celt. It is somewhat flat and thin in make, in perfect 

 condition, the edge quite sharp (fig. 5). The stone is an amygdaloidal 

 porphyrite. 



Bonfires have frequently been lighted on the top of the cairn ; and 

 it is possible that some of the charcoal found in the cairn has been 



