[ 251 ] 



X. 



THE DISTEIBUTION OF GOLD LUNULA IN IRELAND 

 AND NOETH-WESTEEN EUEOPE. 



By GEOEGE COFFEY, A. LB. 



Plates IX.-XII. 



Read January 11. Ordered for Piibliciition Jaxdauy 13. Published FEiiRXiAUT 22, 1909. 



The flat gold collars known as limulse or crescents are probably the 

 most characteristic and distinctive of the gold ornaments of the Early- 

 Bronze Period found in Ireland. They are often erroneously described as 

 minus. This mistake is due to the general error into which our older writers 

 have fallen, and from which we have hardly yet escaped, by which the 

 Prehistoric Period in Ireland — that is, the period prior to the Christian era — 

 was regarded as one and simple. It was, therefore, sought to identify all the 

 prehistoric antiquities found in Ireland with objects mentioned in the tales 

 of the early centuries, or of a few centuries B.C. Modern archaeology is 

 gradually bringing to light the fact that prehistoric Ireland was not one 

 and isolated, but is to be explained by being viewed as a part of the 

 prehistoric period of Europe, in which sections and sub-periods can be 

 separated, embracing many centuries and local differences ; even the Bronze 

 Period includes a long space of time and many sub-periods. 



The circumstances under which lunulpe have been found are rarely 

 recorded. Secrecy is generally observed about the finding of gold objects ; 

 and it is usually too late to obtain reliable particulars when the find becomes 

 known. The number which have been found in Ireland is quite surprising. 

 The great collection now in the Museum — which the Eoyal Irish Academy 

 has formed and continues to add to, to illustrate our National Antiquities — 

 contains no less than thirty-six examples. Some of these are late additions. 

 In a few instances, they are said to have been found at or under 

 Eude Stones, but the information requires to be more precise. 



Except in the rare cases of plain examples (fig. 1), lunulse are engraved on 

 one face with finely cut or scored, well-recognized Early Bronze Age ornament 

 consisting mostly of bands of lines, and cross-hatchings, chevrons, triangles, 



R. I. A. PROC, VOL. XXVII., SECT. C. [38] 



