2 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



for the first time, a test for the chronological study of the bronze-age art in 

 this country. 



At the kind suggestion of M. I'Abbe, this paper is presented under our 

 joint names. But while it is possible that Mr. Burkitt and I contributed 

 some details to the criticism of the monuments, as we discussed each in its 

 turn on the spot, the credit for the results set forth in the following pages 

 rests wholly with M. Breuil; and in translating his notes I have thought it 

 only his due to allow him to speak in the first person. My own share in the 

 work has been little more than to arrange and to conduct the tour of inspec- 

 tion, and to translate into English and arrange in literary form the notes 

 which he sent me in a letter after his return to France. At his request they 

 are now communicated to the Academy. — E. A. S. M. 



I.— Obseevations upon Individual Monuments. 



A. — Net': Ch'ange. 



Some of the sculpturings at New Grange show clear evidence of super- 

 position, of two different styles of technique and of motive. Mr. Coffey's 

 book {Netv Grange and other Incised Monuments in Ireland, Dublin, 1912) is a 

 convenient corpus of photographs and other illustrations, in which the designs 

 may be studied. Eeferences are made to that book, by page and figure, in 

 the notes which follow. 



1. On the stone (p. 29, fig. 5), the lozenges alternately incised and in 

 relief are later than the pocked spirals ; they are clearly modified in shape 

 so as not to interfere with ilieni. 



2. On the stone with a triple spiral (p. 31, fig. 9) there are finely 

 incised lines which have been left untouched when the surface of the stone 

 was pocked preparatory to making the triple spiral. These are but faintly 

 visible in the photograph. 



3. The position of the stone (p. 32, fig. 10) shows that the pocked linear 

 spirals, and other figures in the same technique upon this stone, are older 

 than the building of the tumulus. 



4. The same deduction follows from the position of the great roofing-stone 

 of the right-hand burial-recess (p. 33, fig. 11 ; Plate VII). 



5. In one of the three exposed stones of the outer kerb (p. 39, fig. 23; 

 p. 75, fig. 58) the lozenges on the lower margin of the left-hand side have 

 clearly been made after the spirals, which have been partly broken away to 

 make room for them.^ 



1 1 am not convinced that the argument drawn from this stone can be maintained ; 

 to me the fracture seems to run into the right-hand compartment of the stone, where 

 the ornamental device crosses it unbroken. — R. A. S. M, 



