3 I2 



[Proc. B.N.F.C, 



allocated to the Royal Society." Professor Meldola criticised this, 

 and an amendment followed and was carried to the effect " That 

 in view of the opinions elicited during the Conference the question 

 of the advisability of taking further action be referred for con- 

 sideration by the Corresponding Societies Committee." 



Miss Margaret E. Dobbs then gave a lecture on " The Arch- 

 aeological Evidence of the Truths of Irish Records." She said that 

 till about fifty years ago there was only one source of history — 

 viz., written matter. We have now two sources — written matter 

 or texts, and monuments. By monuments are meant all the 

 archaeological remains from a flint scraper to a triumphal arch. 

 It may be roughly said that monuments, as a whole, confirm 

 ancient history and tradition, and discredit the higher criticism 

 and its sceptical teaching. This has been strikingly the case in 

 earlier Greek and Hebrew history, and there seems to be reason 

 to believe it will prove the same with Irish history. There is 

 absolutely no doubt that a very important trade route existed 

 between the Mediterranean and the Baltic as early as 1700 B.C. 

 It ran through central Europe in a well-defined line, and reached 

 the Baltic by the Oder or Vistula. By this route Mycenian arts 

 and ^Egean civilisation reached Scandinavia till, as Coffey says, 

 " In the Western Baltic Islands and coasts a high degree of 

 civilisation existed i:i early bronze age, though lower in order, 

 comparable to that of ^Egean at the same period. This is shown 

 not only by remarkable skill in metal-working, but by advanced 

 state of arts, of dress, &c." The same influences have been traced 

 through Scotland to East Ireland. They are not found in Gaul 

 or South Britain, and bronze cauldrons are also a peculiarity of 

 Scotch and Irish bronze age remains. They are unknown on the 

 Continent. The legend of the Juatha-de-Danan then seems to 

 cover a real historic fact. A similar point occurs in connection 

 with gold-mining in Ireland. All old histories assert gold was 

 mined and manufactured in Ireland at a date between 1500 and 



