377 



which is flattened. This tumulus is situated on the top of a small 

 sloping eminence in a green field, and is crowned by a mutilated 

 whitethorn tree, growing on its eastern border. It is covered with 

 earth and grass, but is said to contain stone chambers in the inte- 

 rior. 



Although the carved stones, previously referred to, exceed one hun- 

 dred in number, there are not two the decorations on which are similar. 

 On the stones which have been long exposed to the destructive effects 

 of the atmosphere, the punched, or other work, is often much obliterated; 

 but on those lately exposed, the work of the tool is almost as fresh and 

 as distinct as at the period of its execution. 



At what remote, or even recent period, these ancient tombs have 

 been subjected to demolition, it would be difficult to determine. I 

 have heard, however, from old men who were engaged at the work of 

 exploration, that they recollected, before quarries were generally 

 opened in the country, that persons were in the habit of coming from 

 distances of twenty or thirty miles round about, to procure from these 

 archaic structures slabs suitable for domestic or other purposes. Of what 

 now remains, deprived of most of the roofing flags, the inscriptions* on 

 the sculptured chamber stones in thirteen chambers, on the entire 

 range, may be thus summarized : — 



406 single cup-like hollows, some arranged in parallel lines, some 

 in circles, and many of them scattered in groups, probably intended to 

 represent constellations ; 86 cups, each surrounded by a single circle ; 

 30, by two circles; 17, by three circles; 4, by four circles ; 3, by five 

 circles ; 4 cup hollows, each surrounded by a spiral ; 35 star-shaped 

 figures, varying from four to thirteen rays in each ; 22 circles, with 

 rays emanating from each; 14 cups, each surrounded by a circle with 

 rays emanating from it ; 16 single ovals; 1 figure of two concentric 

 ovals; 1 of six ; 114 single circles ; 32 figures of two concentric 

 circles; 10 of three; 6 of four ; 4 of five ; 1 of six; 68 semi-ellipti- 

 cal or arched figures ; 12 spirals, 14 quadrilateral figures, 6 triangular 

 figures, formed by cross-hatched lines ; 54 reticulated figures, con- 

 sisting in all of 138 diamonds; nearly 300 single straight lines, some 

 of which may probably be Oghamic ; upwards of 80 zigzag, or chevron 

 lines; 10 single curves; 11 figures of two concentric curves, 10 of 

 three, 8 of four, 4 of five, 4 of six, 2 of seven, 1 of eight, 1 of nine, 

 and 2 of thirteen concentric curves. In all — so far as the explora- 

 tions have gone — I have laid bare 1393 separate devices, which will 

 be found to be many times more than had been previously supposed to 

 exist in Ireland. 



Erom the existence of other sepulchral remains, cairns, moats, &c, 



* In the original paper the devices on each stone are separately given in detail, as 

 well as plans of the interior arrangement of each cairn, and accurate measurements of 

 the height, breadth, and thickness of each of the stones forming the chambers. 



