Simpson — Notes on Worked Flints found at Portrush. 77 
be observed on the adjacent sand-hills, was in progress at the period 
to which I refer. Flint cores and large nodules are plentiful ; the 
worked pieces vary in size from minute fragments, about -^eth of 
an inch in length, to and 2 inches : they are rudely fashioned. 
Scrapers of various lengths, and peculiar sharpened bent pieces, have 
also been discovered. 
I occasionally came upon charred substances, which crumbled 
away upon removal, and pottery fragments here and there, but I found 
none worth removing. The exact locality where the flints were dis- 
covered is situated on the south side of the road leading to Dunluce, in 
the immediate vicinity of a row of small houses, called Springhill." 
I enclose photograph of the place, looking westward. I have been 
informed by some of the inhabitants of the place that the removal 
of the sand has been going on for the past twelve years ; it covered 
to the extent of thirty, and in some places fully forty feet, the soil 
in which the worked flints were found, which is at least forty feet 
above present sea level. I made several attempts in other localities 
where sand had been removed, but was unable to find any flints 
which bore traces of working. "With regard to the peaty soil to 
which I refer, on the western shore, towards Portstewart, before 
coming to the basalt, it may be observed in perfection, forming great 
slabs, partially covered by sand, and in other places showing distinctly 
in the sides of the sand-hills which border the shore. At various 
points along the coast I examined carefully this vegetable substance, 
but could not find any trace whatever of flints ; but I found the 
peaty soil so compressed, that it had almost become turf ; the vege- 
table substances, of which it is so largely composed, had become 
totally decayed, and thoroughly amalgamated with the sand, to such 
an extent that it cut just like a piece of soap, which it resembled in 
consistency. The fragments of pottery were not embedded in the 
peaty soil to any depth, but were found upon the top. I found many 
of the flints lying on the surface when the more recent accumulation 
of sand was carefully removed, but upon digging they became more 
plentiful. 
