278 



extending from Sliabh-na-Caillighe, in the direction of the town of 

 Kells, and continued thence towards Slane and Drogheda, I have little 

 doubt that the cairns on the Loughcrew Hills are but a portion of a 

 chain of such remains, terminated on the east by the great mounds of 

 Knowth, ISTew Grange, and Dowth; and that a fuller and more careful 

 examination of the country will prove that chain to have extended 

 westward to the Atlantic. 



Would it not be interesting to have all the tumuli in the neigh- 

 bourhood of New Grange thoroughly explored and examined as those 

 at Loughcrew have been, several of them being yet unopened ? Their 

 examination would probably afford, if nothing else, a considerable ad- 

 dition to our present knowledge of existing inscribed stone monuments. 



I have a strong impression that a further investigation of cairns 

 L and T on Sliabh-na-Caillighe will bring to light additional interior 

 chambers in these two cairns ; but, leaving this out of consideration for 

 the present, it will be readily seen that what I have already discovered, 

 and endeavoured here to describe, far exceeds in extent all the carved 

 megalithic chambers which were previously known to exist in the 

 kingdom, and these principally at Dowth and ISTew Grange. 



During the progress of the work of exploration at Loughcrew, I 

 furnished myself with paper sufficient to take rubbings of all the in- 

 scribed stones, some of which I actually rubbed ; but, finding that in 

 several instances accurate rubbings could not be taken at all, and that 

 in addition I could not devote the time necessary for executing a series 

 of more than 100 inscribed faces with due care and accuracy, in this 

 dilemma I urged upon my friend Mr. Du Noyer, who was then living 

 in the neighbouring town of Kells, to employ his ready pencil in draw- 

 ing the devices on the carved stones. After I left the hills, he com- 

 pleted this great work ; and I am sure the Academy will agree with 

 me, that so important a task could not be intrusted to an abler anti- 

 quarian artist. 



In concluding this first part of my examination of these cairns, 

 which I have confined entirely to descriptive and statistical details, I 

 beg leave to make the following recommendations to the Academy : — 



I. That the thanks of this Academy be voted to Mr. ISTaper and to 

 Mr. Hamilton for the willing, earnest, and important aid which they 

 afforded during the progress of these discoveries ; and for Mr. Paper's 

 patriotic generosity in allowing me to present everything found to this 

 Academy, where objects of antiquarian interest can be best studied and 

 elucidated. 



II. That a separate case in the Museum be appropriated to the 

 safe keeping of the various articles found, with a suitable inscription, 

 recording the aid which Mr. Naper gave in opening up and bringing to 

 light these interesting remains of a pre-historic age in this country. 



III. That it would be all-important that the particulars of a find so 

 peculiarly national should be published by this Academy, with full 



