Coffey and Pkaeger — The Aiitrim llaiHed Beach. i7^i 



A section was opened on tlie southern side of the railway cutting 

 through the Curran, at a spot where the surface of the gravels stood 

 22 feet above high-water level. The section was cleared down to the 

 estuarine clay, a depth of 21 feet. A trial pit was further sunk 

 through the estuarine clay to a depth of 8 feet, or in all a depth of 

 29 feet below the surface of the gravels. 



As regards the distribution of worked flints in the principal section, 

 it was found that the uppermost layer of gravelly soil (1 foot 6 inches) 

 yielded flakes in the greatest profusion. The flakes were all of a very 

 rude type, with little appearance of secondary chij)ping, the edges 

 blunt, and the surface much oxidized. Undoubted cores were rare, 

 and no scrapers or other implements were found. 



In the succeeding coarse gravel (4 feet 6 inches) much fewer 

 flakes were found, and their number rapidly diminished as the depth 

 increased, ceasing altogether at a depth of from 4 to 5 feet below the 

 surface. In character the flakes were identical with those from the 

 surface layer. 



In the next following sandy layers (3 feet 6 inches) flakes were 

 very rare, only two being found. 



In the coarse gravel below the sandy layers (8 feet 6 inches) flakes 

 occurred sparingly all through the bed ; a few cores were found, and 

 a fine example of a rude "celt" (at a depth of 11 feet from the 

 surface). It was noted that the flints were fresher and less oxidized 

 than those in the upper gravel, and the edges sharper. 



In the next bed, black muddy gravel (2 feet 6 inches), one 

 fine flake was found at a depth of 19 feet from the surface. This 

 bed could not be thoroughly examined on account of water rising 

 in it. 



The statement that "undoubted cores were rare" is unexpected, 

 as cores can be picked up in numbers in the talus of the gravels, and 

 along the beach wherever a section is exposed. They iire generally 

 coarse and defective, as if discarded after a few trial flakes, and are 

 usually much weathered. The good pieces were probably worked 

 out, and fine cores are very rare, but the characteristic core-form of 

 those which can still be collected in large numbers is unmistalvable, 

 though they probably sliould be looked on as wasters for the most 

 part ratlier tlian serviceable cores. 



The specimens collected by the committee of the Belfast Field 

 Club are unfortunately no longer forthcoming. It cannot be too 

 strongly insisted that in all such cases a type series of specimens 

 should be placed in some public museum for future reference. 



