423 



No. 10. A fine hone—Seem^ to be one of the Silurian grits found 



in the hills north of Roxborough. 

 N'o. 11. A small slab of sandstone, used for sharpening. 

 Ko. 12. A small sea stone. Coal measure? 

 1^0. 13. A hone — Old red sandstone. 

 'No. 14. A cut piece of deer's horn. 

 No. 15. A large pig's tusk. 



There was also found here what seemed to be the top of a table. 

 This latter was composed of four planks of oak, 3-5 feet long by 9 inches 

 wide and .2 thick, with underneath two slabs 5 inches wide by 1| inch 

 thick. These slabs were fastened to the upper boards by dowels (l!^o. 71), 

 and each board was do welled to its fellow (see dowel. No. 62). This 

 table was so rotten, that it fell to pieces when taken out of its bed. The 

 water came into this hole at a depth of 5 feet, and put a stop to the 

 work. 



The inferences I draw from my observations are, that a tribe, and 

 not a family, inhabited this crannoge — each family occupying a hut, or 

 apartment — they all having a common fire in the centre ; that the island 

 in the first instance extended much further to the south ; that the in- 

 habitants were driven out either by fire or the waters of the lake rising ; 

 but in either case it seems to have been deserted, and submerged for a 

 period. Afterwards, by some cause or another, it again appeared above 

 the water.* Then the natives of the country determined to repeople it ; 

 but they found that during S. E. and S. gales the whole force of the 

 waves of the lake broke on it, and were gradually eating it away ; they 

 therefore, to preserve it, sank the before-mentioned piles and stones at 

 its south and south-eastern shore. Mr. Foot, who assisted at the prin- 

 cipal excavations, suggests, " That these inhabitants lived in stone huts ; 

 and that the uppermost bed in some of the foregoing sections, consisting 

 of clay, stone, and peat, is the debris of the ruins of these." This does 

 not appear at all unlikely ; and it would account for the bones found in 

 it, and not continuous up tlirough the sections from their first appear- 

 ance. 



To arrive at full particulars, and thoroughly understand the history 

 of the place, the whole of the ancient habitations ought to be cleared 

 out, Avhich could not be done properly unless the lake was lowered 

 seven feet. 



Mr. Silk, of Loughrea, bought most of the bones from the country 

 people that burrowed this island, and he gave me the following infor- 

 mation : — The country people raised bones in this island and in the 

 boggy bottom on the mainland opposite E-eed's Island. The best bones 

 were got in the latter place. In the crannoge the best and whitest bones 



* Dr. Gerrard Boate, in his " Natural History of Ireland," mentions that the eaily 

 English settlers carried on large drainage works in Ireland ; and as their stronghold in 

 Connaught was Athenry, nine miles distant, it is not unlikely that it was some of them 

 that opened up the outlet from the lake. 



