328 



bottomed, 14 inches high in the side, 20 wide, and is in very tolerable 

 preservation. It was found in 1856 in the drainage excavations, 

 " from 6 to 8 feet below the surface, in a bed of 

 sand and Lough N^eagh clay," at Toome bar, on the 

 Lower Bann, a locality almost as famous as the Ford 

 of Meelick on the Shannon, for the quantity of antiqui- 

 ties found in it, and to which we have numerous re- 

 ferences in the Museum Catalogue. "With this boat were 

 found three light, thin, black oak paddles, from 2 feet 



3 inches to 5 feet long. Also an antique anchor, or 

 grappling iron, 21 inches long, here figured; it is the 

 only article of the kind yet discovered in Ireland. Mr. 

 Hornsby, the Secretary to the Eoard of Works, has in- 

 formed me that three boats were found at Toome bar, 



one of which was sent to Lady Massereene, and the 

 other was so rotten that it fell to pieces on being ex- 

 posed to the air." 



From the same locality, an antique oaken spade, 



4 feet 6 inches long, and 7 J inches broad in the blade, 

 which is shod with iron for about 2 inches. Similar 

 wooden shovels were in use in the West of Ireland within a very recent 

 period. 



During the excavations for the new Eecord Building to the west of 

 the Four Courts in Dublin, there were found, at a depth of about 15 feet, 

 traces of ancient foundations ; and Mr. James Owen, the architect of 

 the Board of Public Works, states there were also there ''portions of a 

 very carefully constructed foundation of oak logs about 6 inches square, 

 placed as near each other as their twisted shape would permit, with a 

 similar floor laid over them in a contrary direction, and a sort of hard 

 concrete over that. The logs had been roughly squared by the adze, 

 and were saplings or branches." In removing these foundations several 

 specimens of ancient crockery, glass, horses' bones, and some few coins 

 and tokens, were found, which I also present on the part of the Board of 

 Works. 



There have also remained over in the offices of the Board of Works 

 from the time of the operations on the Shannon and the days of the drain- 

 age works a few antiquities, with the presentation of which I have 

 likewise been intrusted. The most remarkable of these is an imperfect 

 processional cross, about 16 inches high, of a single piece of yew, coated 

 with plates of brass, which were evidently in many parts jewelled, or had 

 inserted into their apertures enamelled studs. The figure on this cross 

 is one of great beauty and antiquity, and the article is a most valuable 

 addition to our ecclesiastical collection. It was found in June, 1853, 

 in an old river course, opposite Woodford Castle, parish of Ballinakill, 

 barony of Leitrim, and county of Gal way. 



A small, very perfect, copper battle-axe, 6 J inches long, and 3 inches 

 wide, with four rivets. The article is similar to those described in 

 Fig. 356, Museum Catalogue, page 489, and belongs to a class of weapons 



