-g [Proc. B.N.F.O., 



KITCHEN-MIDDENS. 



Two " Kitchen- Middens " were visited during the long 

 excursion, Portstewart and Whitepark Bay. At the former locality 

 but little was noticed — a few waste chips of flint, one or two 

 scrapers, bones of Ox and small Birds, and the shells of edible 

 Mollusca, but nothing was found that could fix the date, though 

 as has been well known for many years, many finely worked flint 

 tools have been found. At Whitepark Bay we were more 

 fortunate. Strictly speaking, however, this is not a true "kitchen- 

 midden," but consists of blown sand, with relics of human 

 occupation scattered throughout, the sand being often discoloured 

 by the presence of abundant charcoal. It was not to be expected 

 that the cursory examination of a few hours would add much to 

 our knowledge, yet some important facts were noted. Mr. J. W. 

 Jackson, F.G.S., found on the top of the midden a bronze awl, 

 which was pronounced by Mr. Reginald Smith to be of Early 

 Bronze Age, whilst the writer noted that flint scrapers were 

 abundant at a level of about five feet from the top. Were this 

 midden carefully excavated, layer by layer, there is no doubt 

 that important discoveries would be made. So far everything 

 found has either been picked up from the surface or else obtained 

 by casual digging without regard to the level, and so the objects 

 cannot be dated. 



The following notes on the objects found during the 

 excursion may, however, be of some slight interest. Fragments 

 of pottery were very abundant. They probably represented 

 domestic vessels, and the fragments sometimes indicated fairly 

 large pots. All the pottery was hand-made, and there was no 

 trace of a wheel-turned vessel. Occasional traces of ornament 

 occurred, probably made with a pointed stick. The pottery was 

 often very thick and was badly fired, whilst the material used was 

 by no means suitable, probably because good material was not 

 available. Fragments showing true Neolithic shapes were noted 

 by Mr. Reginald Smith. With regard to the worked flints there 



