Burial Customs of Ancient Ireland. 49 



and cruciform chamber, the sarcophagus in the eastern chamber, 

 and the spirals, volutes, zigzags, and other symbolic carvings 

 on the stones. The entrance passage through the longer axis 

 of the cross is 63 feet, formed of huge flags set on end, and 

 roofed across with others equally large. One of the roofing stones 

 is 17 feet long by 16 feet broad. The average width of the 

 passage is about three feet, and the average height about six 

 feet. Close to the entrance some of the side stones have fallen 

 in, and the principal passage is here very narrow, so that to enter 

 it one has to creep in on all fours. The height of the chamber 

 is nineteen feet six inches. From the entrance to the hall of 

 the chamber opposite measures eighteen feet, and between the 

 extremities of the right and left crypts twenty-two feet. The 

 Mound of Dowth was next described as 300 ieet in diameter, 

 and 45 feet in height above the level of the ground. The 

 cruciform chamber was described, together with another 

 chamber quite recently discovered. In Dowth as in New 

 Grange the stones are covered with symbolic carvings, and 

 there is a basin-shaped stone, or sarcophagus, larger than any 

 in New Grange, being five feet in its longest diameter. 



Another of the great Pagan cemeteries of ancient Ireland was 

 Tailtin, where the Ultonian or Ulster kings were buried. Up to 

 about twenty-five years ago it was believed that a place called 

 Telltown, situated about midway between Navan and Kells, was 

 the ancient Tailtin. The absence of sepulchral monuments at 

 Telltown and the discoveries of Mr. Eugene Conwell have led 

 many archaeologists to look elsewhere for this ancient burial 

 place. About twelve miles from Telltown there is a range of 

 hills, known as the Lough Crew Hills, on which Mr. Conwell 

 twenty-five years ago discovered some thirty cairns, several of 

 which contained chambers with sculptured carvings somewhat 

 like those at New Grange. Mr. James Ferguson, already referred 

 to, visited this district with Mr. Conwell, and was impressed 

 very strongly with the idea that these cairns and chambered 

 tumuli formed the ancient Pagan cemetery, so famous in Irish 

 history. Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Conwell have made out a very 



