6 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Aeademif. 



circles, etc. Similar devices are to he seen on a rock-snrface near " Calliagh 

 Vin-a's house " at Monasterboice.^ These figures have some likeness to the 

 roek-scribings of the r^on of Etampes, near Paiis, and to those of some of 

 the rocks in Spain. 



B. — The Cloonjiidoek Stone. 



This remarkable slab,- covered with incisions resembling the outlines of 

 footmarks, cups, and conventionalized human figui-es, is undoubtedly akin to 

 liie l^eolithie rock engravings and paintings of Spain, and is certainly 

 Keolithic or early Aeneolithic. 



G. — The Titmuhis Sculptures. Series L 



The engravings in cut or scratched lines at Dowth, with a few at New 

 Grange and at Tjochcrew (?) in the same technique, are the oldest of the 

 Tumulus series of sculptures. In no ease do they interfere with other 

 sculptures, but they themselves occasionally cause modification of later 

 work. Note especially the stone at Dowth (p. 58, fig. 38), where the pocked 

 area has undoubtedly been restrained to avoid interference with the circular 

 figures in incised lines. The figure repi-esente the pocked area as an unbroken 

 surface, but it is really a diaper of triangles. 



This series is, perhaps, contemporary with, in any case only a little later 

 than, groups A and B. 



C. — The Tumulus Sculptures. Series IL 



This group includes the engravings in pocked lines at Dowth, Hew 

 Grange, Lochcrew, Sess Kilgreen, Knoekuiany, and Castle Arehdale. It is 

 possible to subdi\"ide the series either on a basis of technique (depth and 

 regularity of the lines, presence or absence of polishing after poc kin g), or of 

 design (relative elaboration of patterns, preference for particular motives ; 

 certain motives or designs appear alone on some of the monuments). 



At Lochcrew and at New Gi-ange many, if not all, of these designs were 

 traced on the stones before the latter were used in the erection of the 

 tumulL 



Towards the end of this series there is to be noticed a growth in the 

 complexity of the spirals and concentric circles, with a concurrent diminution 

 in the variety of individual symbols used. 



I should associate with the end of this group many of the rock-sculptures 

 containing channelled concentric circles (fig. 1, d). It is possible that in 



' Jourtud^ Kilkenny Arch. Soc., new series, vol. v, p. 499. 

 -Ibid., p 354n. 



