l20 Annual Meeting. 



continue further work and report the result of Avhat we had found 

 to the Archaeological Section for future consideration. 



In conclusion I would say that from historical records 

 coupled with what has l)cen found by excavations, certain facts 

 are established, which facts I may tabulate as follows : — 



1. The hill on which the cathedral is situated has been a 

 place of almost constant human occupation for at least 2,000 

 years. 



2. It has through time been subjected to important alter- 

 ations in its contour- on at least four occasions, namely : — 



a. The enclosure of the Kath by a vallum of which 



traces still remain ; date unknown. 



b. The levelling of a vast area of the top for the 



erection of the great Benedictine Abbey, about the 

 year 1188, when much soil was removed from the 

 site and apparently cast over the side of the hill. 



c. The clearing of the debris of the Benedictine Abbey 



for the creation of the present cathedral in 1790 : 

 this debris was scattered in various places near the 

 cathedral raising the ground considerably where it 

 was dumped. 



d. The levelling of the tennis ground on the north side 



of the cathedral, when about 8 feet was cut oft' an 

 area of about three-quarters of an aci-e. The soil 

 removed in this oijeration was used for raising the 

 level of the Ballydougan Koad. 



3. As the hill now exists, excavations prove that its summit 

 and to some extent its sides constitute a veritable midden of 

 refuse of all ages from the late bronze or early iron age to the 

 present date. 



4. The hill is undoubtedly the site of the ancient Rath- 

 keltchar, Araskeltchair, Dunkeltchair, otherwise Dunleathghlas 

 or Dundaleathghlass. 



5. The Mound is actually the entrenchment or castle made 

 by John de Courcy in 1177 and should not be confused with 

 liathkeltchar. 



