190 Proceedings nj {he Koijul Irish Academy. 



illustration of a paper on flint flakes, exhibited flakes from Toome and else- 

 where. In January, 1867, Mr. John Evans, F.S.A., F.R.S., read a paper before the 

 Society of Antiquaries of London on " Discoveries of Stone Implements in 

 Lough Neagh," numbermg in all above 100 stone hatchets, and upwards of 

 1000 flakes, &c., and he states at the same time that Mr. Robert Day, jun., of 

 Cork, had informed him that he had upwards of 120 stone implements and 

 2000 flmt-flakes, &c, 



In 1909 Mr. Wilfred Jackson, F.G.S., gave an account of the diatomaeeous 

 deposit of the Lower Bann valley and prehistoric implements found therein. 



I have on various occasions described the Larne series of prehistoric 

 implements, which I considered to be older than the oi-dinary flint implements 

 of other parts of Ireland, and I should think that if the race which made the 

 Larne implements survived the changes caused by the sinking of the land 

 round the north-east coast, they may have re-appeared in the Bann valley, 

 as some of the implements foimd there resemble those of the older series 

 from Larne, Island Magee, and elsewhere on the north-east coast. The 

 manufacturers of the Larne type of implement were not confined to Larne 

 and Island Magee, but occupied all the coast of Belfast Lough and all the 

 coast of Antrim north wai'ds, as we find the remains of thek industry at several 

 places, particularly at Carnlough, Whitepark Bay, Portrush, and Portstewart. 

 I imagine they may have entered at the mouth of the Bann, near which we 

 find implements of the Larne type, and that they would make their way up 

 the river to Lough Neagh. 



Nearly everywhere along the Bann flint-flakes and implements are to be 

 found, but there are several noted stations along the river which have 

 produced flakes and implements in profusion. Considerable quantities have 

 been found from the mouth of the Bann up to Coleraine. Mount Sandal, 

 south of Coleraine, opposite the Salmon Leap, is a station wlrere many of the 

 characteristic Bann implements have been found. Further south, as at 

 Aghadowey, some have been found. Near Kilrea, where another salmon 

 leap was cut, great quantities were obtamed ; also at Gortgole, Portgleuone 

 and Glenone, Culbane, New Ferry, and various places up to Toome Bar, 

 where the Bann emerges from Lough Neagh. When the Bann was being 

 deepened by the Board of Works, as already referred to, great quantities of 

 implements of stone and bronze were obtained from the bed of the river. 

 Eev. James O'Laverty, who lived at Portglenone at that time, obtained the 

 greater part of his fine collection during the time the excavations were going 

 on, and we see by reference in Sir William Wilde's Catalogue of the Museum 

 of the Royal Irish Academy that finds at Toome Bar, Portna, &c., on the 

 Bann during the drainage and sinking of the bed of the river were presented 



