Prehistoric Dwelling Places 101 



find that the arrow was in use by the Irish after the Norman 

 invasion, practically up to the introduction of firearms. So that 

 when one hears more or less learned antiquaries speaking dog- 

 matically of the Stone Age, the Neolithic Age, the Bronze period, 

 &c., in connection with flint arrow heads in Ireland, one would 

 do well to accept such theories with some caution. 



Of bone implements we found none ; but it must be remem- 

 bered in all the Souterrains examined the moisture of the floors 

 had rotted almost everything that damp could destroy, so that 

 we can base nothing on the fact that no implements of bone, 

 wood or leather are included in the total of our finds. 



Of animal food remains the few fragments surviving the 

 prevalent decay consisted of teeth of horses, sheep, pigs and oxen ; 

 besides teeth were quantities of half burned decayed fragments of 

 various bones of the same animals. I am again indebted to 

 Professor Keith for identifying these. Of miscellaneous articles 

 discovered, not already mentioned, we found in Ballymartin an 

 artifically-shaped spherical stone of the same size as the round 

 stones found in Knock Dhu, which I believe to be one of the 

 " lapides pugillares " or hand stories mentioned by Giraldus 

 Cambrensis, and also referred to in several of the old Irish 

 Tracts. 



In Kilbride Souterrain we found a large polished stone, 

 which is on the table, I could form no idea of its use, but Mr. 

 Stendall at once identified it as a calendar or smoothing stone 

 used by a tanner for softening and polishing leather. 



In the same cave we also found one sharpening stone, part 

 of a jet bracelet 2-| " in diameter, a piece of fossil wood similar to 

 those so often found in crannogs and other prehistoric settle- 

 ments, also a curious spherical lump of chalky substance, the use 

 of which I cannot conjecture. 



In conclusion I would refer you to my remarks in my 

 last year's paper on the error of most writers in referring to 

 Souterrains as Rath Caves. Although sometimes found with a 

 later Rath thrown up round them, or near them, probably 40 or 



