2 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



been carefully removed, with the bones, to the adjoining house, and I assisted 

 in gathering up the fragments of the one which had been unintentionally 

 broken in the picTcing of the gravel. The workmen scarcely noticed the first 

 urn, it being of similar colour to the gravel, until it fell down in pieces, 

 smashed by their tools and the fall. This loss, however, saved the other two 

 urns, which were abstracted with care, and the bones lifted and placed in 

 them, together with the portions of the small bronze knife-dagger, which is 

 of particular value as proving the age of the burial. It is illustrated 

 (Plate I, fig. 4). The bronze object had also undergone the influence of fire, 

 doubtless, at the time the bodies were consumed. 



The calcined fragments of bones were submitted by me to Dr. Scharff, of 

 Dublin, and Professor Symington, of Belfast, and they examined same 

 jointly, and have made a joint report, which is as follows : — 



" These fragments of bones have been carefully examined by Professor 

 Symington, of Belfast, and Dr. Scharff, of Dublin, in conjunction, and they 

 agree that some of the fragments are human, but certainly some of them are 

 animal, probably either horse or ox. They have been burned and broken into 

 such small fragments that it is almost impossible to identify them with 

 certainty. 



Signed, " J. Symingtok. 



Pi.. F. SchakfI'. 

 " 12th June, 1915." 



This is a remarkable report, because it goes to prove that the bodies of the 

 warriors or chieltains were burned, most probably with their horses, and this 

 in the Bronze Age. 



We thus have simple urn burial, in large, well-made, ornamented vessels, 

 of the burnt fragments of human bodies, combined with animal remains, and a 

 small bronze knife- dagger. 



No superficial monument was found, and there was no stone or other 

 enclosure about the urns. They were discovered accidentally during 

 labour ; no grave was destroyed and no ancient monument disturbed. The 

 two complete urns are of the largest class, varied as to ornament and shape, 

 as can be seen by the illustrations (Plate I). The fragments of the third 

 urn have been reconstructed, and show that it was smaller than the other 

 two, but of the same type. It may possibly have been ornamented, but 

 the fragments are worn, and it is impossible to be certain on this point. 

 The largest vessel measures 12^ inches in height and 11^ inches in diameter 

 at the mouth ; the second urn is 12 inches high and 12| inches in diameter 

 at the mouth ; and the third as retained measures 10 inches in height and 

 10| inches in diameter at the mouth. 



