1886-1887.] 5^9 



the druggists of Ballymena sold it for cart grease, throwing 

 the vessels away that contained it. In conclusion, he stated 

 that the general opinion now was that the constructors of these 

 lake dwellings were a highly advanced race, trading with their 

 neighbours, and manufacturing articles such as are now found 

 in their buried remains, but that they unfortunately seemed to 

 have eventually succumbed to their more powerful and ruder 

 neighbours. 



The next part of the evening's business was to hear the report 

 of the sub-committee appointed to investigate the Larne gravels. 

 The secretary, after reading the minute referring to the subject, 

 stated that, acting as secretary for the committee of investiga- 

 tion, he drew up a report of it, which he afterwards circulated 

 among the members of the committee with the request that 

 they would each express in writing their individual opinions on 

 it. These opinions are now embodied with this report, also 

 two letters from Mr. Knowles referring specially to the subject. 



Report of the Committee appointed to investigate the 

 Larne Gravels, and determine the position in them 

 OF THE Flint Flakes and Cores for which they are 

 noted. Held on Saturday, 29th May, 1886. 



I. — The object and preliminaries of the investigation. 



In a paper read by Mr. Wm. Gray, M.R.I.A., in the Museum 

 on April 24th, 1884,* the reader, among other things, challenged 

 the accuracy of statements made by Mr. W. J. Knowles, 

 M.R.I.A., in a paper read by him before the Royal Irish 

 Academy, in reference to the position of the flint implements 

 found in the gravels of the Curran of Larne, and the conclusion 

 drawn from them ; f and at the conclusion of the paper a 

 committee was appointed to investigate and report on the 



* B.N.F.C, Annual Report of Proceedings, Series II., Vol. II., Part IV., p. 288. 



t Transactions, Royal Irish Academy — " Flint Implements from the Raised Beach 

 at Larne and other parts of the North-East Coast of Ireland." Series II., Vol. II., 

 page 209. 



