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X. 
mTES OJS" WOEKED PLINTS FOUISTD 01^ A EAISED BEACH 
AT PORTRUSH IN AUGUST, 1886. By W. J. SIMPSON, 
Belfast. 
[Read January 24, 1887.] 
The accompanying specimens of worked flints were found at Portrusli, 
county Antrim, in the centre of tlie town, and in the immediate vici- 
nity of an ancient beach, which had been exposed to view, through the 
removal for building and other purposes of a vast quantity of sand, which 
covered it to the extent of thirty, and in some places fully forty feet. 
The first discovery of flints at this place was made at the latter 
end of July (1886) by a working man named Gallagher, who disposed 
of his specimens to a few residents in the neighbourhood who took an 
interest in the matter. I visited the place on August 2nd, 1886, and 
found that on the removal of the accumulation of sand (which was the 
result of years of labour), the ancient beach could be traced distinctly. 
Water-worn boulders, pebbles and flints, of the usual types, all bear- 
ing unmistakeable traces of the action of water, became visible. Under- 
neath the sand in which these remains were embedded, and which was 
quite different in appearance from the more recent accumulation (be- 
neath which all had been buried, and which, as I have before stated, 
had been gradually removed), at a depth, varying according to the 
nature of the ground, of from 5 to 10 feet, I found a layer of peaty 
soil, consisting of sand and decayed vegetable matter, the appearance 
and composition of which was quite different from the superincum- 
bent layer, which formed the ancient beach. It was of a dark -brown 
colour, varying to black, and would convey the impression that it 
consisted of decayed moss, mixed with sand and clay. In this deposit 
the worked flints were found in such quantities, that it was scarcely 
possible to turn up a spadeful of the soil without finding half a dozen. 
This peaty soil, I have been informed by men who have laboured in 
removing the sand, etc., extends to a depth of about 8 feet. When 
water was upon the heach, the place where the flints were found must 
have been covered to a certain depth ; then the question arises. Was it 
submerged prior to the advent of the flint- workers? I should con- 
clude that the water had receded, and that vegetation, such as may 
