352 Proceedings of the Roi/al Irish Academy. 



Kilbride, distant about 6 miles east- north-east from Furness. This last 

 point is of importance, as will appear in the sequel. 



The excavation at this site, described in the following pages, was made 

 at the charges of the Hon. John Abercromby, ll.d., who is well known for 

 his valuable work . in various departments of prehistoric archaeology. For 

 the generous practical interest he has shown in the investigation of this site, 

 most grateful acknowledgments are due. 



2. Description of the Monument before Excavation. 



The monument, as visible before excavation, consisted of a circular 

 enclosure (known as Longstone Eath) on the summit of the hill described in 

 the preceding section, with a lofty standing-stone at its exact mathematical 

 centre. This stone is probably one of the monuments the recollection of which 

 was in the mind of Sir James Ware when he wrote of the great stones near 

 Naas, in the Co. Kildare.' 



In plan the enclosure is to all intents and purposes a perfect circle. It is 

 a fine example of the type commonly called " ring-forts." A single vallum, 

 with a fosse outside, marks the outline. The surface of the interior is not 

 plane, but rises in the middle like an inverted saucer, the height at the centre 

 being about 3 feet above the height at the sides. Over the surface of the 

 enclosure are scattered a number of trees— Spanish Chestnut, Ash, and 

 Hawthorn — some apparently planted, others self-sown, averaging about 50 

 to 150 years of age. This fact is worthy of notice, for there are at present 

 two gaps in the surrounding vallum, and the fosse in front of the gaps is filled 

 up, forming gangways which make the enclosure accessible to cattle. Had this 

 been the case when the trees were young, they would probably have been 

 destroyed by the cattle ; the inference is that when the trees were growing 

 up, the ring of vallum and fosse was unbroken. The gaps are approximately 

 at the ends of the east-to-west diameter of the circle (Plate XXXIX, fig. 1). 



One of the trees— a Hawthorn standing on the southern jamb of the 

 western gap — still preserves supernatural virtues in local tradition. The place, 

 it appears, is visited by girls desiring husbands, who stick a pin in the bark of 

 the tree as a reminder of their visit, or sometimes tie on a rag. There are, 

 however, none of the rags usually to be seen on sacred trees. 



The dimensions of the structure are as follows : — Eadius of circle to top of 

 vallum, 106-108 ft. ; height of vallum above interior ground-level, about 



' De Hibeniia et Antiquitatibus ejus, 1654, pp. 103, 104. The imposing monoliths at Punchestown 

 ave probably referred to also. 



