Macalistkw, &c. — Bronze-Age Interment near Naas. 355 



unusually massive slabs, and was of dimensions larger than is common in 

 such structures. "There was no cover slab, and evidently never had been. 

 The floor of the cist, which was composed of rounded field-stones, was divided 

 longitudinally by a small slab set on edge, 2 feet long, by about 1 foot high, 

 and 3 inches thick. There were two large and fine side-slabs on the western 

 side, but the eastern side was lined with comparatively insignificant blocks. 

 The slabs at either end had fallen prostrate inwards, that at the northern end 

 having apparently smashed in its fall an urn which presumably stood on the 

 top of the debris. The fragments of this urn are described in the following 

 section. 



The length of the cist as restored is 8 feet ; its breadth ranges from 2 feet 

 6 inches to 4 feet; the depth is 3 feet 8 inches. The dimensions of the 

 principal component stones are figured on the accompanying plan (Plate XL). 

 The compass-bearing of the long axis is 52° (about N.E. to S.W.). 



Inside the cist was a confused mass of bone debris, ashes, fragments of 

 pottery, mud (apparently the degenerate remains of pottery vessels), and 

 the scanty grave- deposits described in the following section. There was no 

 order of any kind observed in the disposition of the remains. The bodies had 

 been burnt in situ, as the floor of the cist, especially at its southern end, 

 showed marks of a very hot fire, the stones and earth being discoloured by 

 severe burning ; but no smoke-blackening on the side-stones of the cist or on 

 the adjacent standing-stone could now be seen. 



The only other discovery made was that of animal bones under the roots 

 of a large ash-tree which grew on the north-east side of the standing-stone, 

 and which, with the owner's permission, we were obliged to cut down to get 

 it out of the way. 



4. Desceiption of the Objects found. 



The grave furniture was very scanty. The only objects found in the 

 cist among the burnt bones were three small pieces of coarse pottery 

 (Plate XXXIX, figs. 6-8), a small arrow-head or knife (fig. 5), a rough bead 

 or toggle with a counter-sunk perforation (fig. 3), and three broken pieces 

 of a polished object, two of the pieces being likewise pierced with counter- 

 sunk perforations. We were at first uncertain what this object was ; but 

 two pieces of it were found to fit together, and Mr. Eeginald A. Smith, who 

 saw it, suggested that it might be a stone wrist-bracer. We had no hesitation 

 in agreeing with him in this ; and the drawing shows it, with dotted lines 

 supplying the missing portions (fig. 2). The object was presumably split by fire. 

 We came to the conclusion that the grave had not been previously disturbed. 



The objects found were submitted to the Hon. John Abercromby, who 



