340 Proceedings of the Eoyal Irish Academy. 



The small round stone balls which were found in several of the earns are 

 curious, and their use cannot be determined. The pieces of calcite that were 

 found are also interesting ; the custom of placing white stones in interments 

 seems to have been common in prehistoric times, and has been frequently noted.' 

 It is possible that the stones were believed to have some magical significance. 



Pottery. — The complete urns and the portions of vessels illustrated are all 

 reproduced to the scale of one-third. It is most unfortunate that the pottery 

 was in so many cases discovered in such small fragments, and so much 

 detrited. Many attempts at restoration have been made ; but the fragments 

 were so small and so much was missing that, except in one case, nothing of 

 importance has been effected. However, two pieces of rim belonging to 

 different ui-ns were found among the debris from tlie central recess, Garn K ; 

 careful measurement, and following the recovered portion with a pair of 

 compasses, have enabled the outline of the rims to be approximately drawn to 

 scale and shown in the illustrations (Plate XXV, figs. 6 and 7). A third piece 

 of rim was found by Professor Alexander Macalister when sorting out the bones 

 from Carn K (Plate XXV, fig. 5). 



In Carn Gr, right recess, the fragments found were slightly larger, and 

 could be fitted together. The fitting together of these pieces has shown them 

 to belong to a vessel of larger type than the ordinary food- vessel. Careful 

 measurement has enabled the outline of the vessel to be drawn approximately 

 (Plate XXV, fig. 8). It is most unfortunate that no portion of the rim was 

 discovered, so that it is impossible to determine the height of the vessel or the 

 exact type to which it belongs. All that can be stated with certainty is that it 

 is larger than the ordinary food- vessels, and that it resembles the type known 

 as cinerary urns more than these. The clay in the thickest portion recovered 

 measiu'es about three-quarters of an inch, and the pieces show considerable 

 traces of blackening by fire. The decoration is of a simple character, and 

 consists of punch marks, made with a pointed stick or bone. The portion 

 of the rim found by Professor Alexander Macalister also appears to have 

 belonged to a large urn. Measurements, and following the line of the 

 rim with a pair of compasses, have enabled the outline to be approximately 

 drawn to scale ; and reference to the figure will show the probable size of the 

 rim when complete. The fragment measures half an inch in thickness 

 (Plate XXV, fig. 5). 



In Ireland the pottery of NeoUthic times appears to have consisted of 

 smallish vessels with a round base. There is a specimen of this type 

 preserved in the Eoyal Irish Academy's collection in the National Museum. 



' ■Woiid-Martin, Rude Stone Monuments of Ireland, p. 34. Evans, The Ancient Stone Imple- 

 ments, Weapons, and Ornaments of (xreat Britain, 1872, pp. 419-422. 



