214 Explorations in the Bone Cave of Ballynamintra. 
4. Squared, carved knife-handle, 2 portions (Plate XIII, figs. 1 and1a). Colour, 
yellowish ; very brittle. The two pieces when placed together are 2°55 inches 
long, ‘9 inch in breadth, and ‘7 inch in thickness, having formed part of a longer 
instrument from which they had been broken off. The corners are rounded, and 
the four faces are carved with concentric circles, apparently by metal tools. In the 
centre is a cavity, opening to the end of the instrument, stained internally of a ferru- 
ginous colour, and seems to have held an iron blade. This knife-handle is considered 
by Mr. John Evans, F.R.s., to belong probably to what in England is known as the 
Saxon Period, and not to be more ancient than the 6th or 7th century. Knife- 
handles similarly ornamented with concentric circles occur in the Museum 
of the Royal Irish Academy. Case 4 contains such a bone knife-handle, No. 358 
with a bronze (#) blade, No. 1,464 is another similar handle. Found 19th May, 
1879, in a recess of the left wall, against which lay an undisturbed block of 
stalagmite, but water-worn fissures that lead down to this recess and below it, 
from the horizon of the brown earth, showed that it was in a line of drainage. 
Associated in the same recess in earth was the rude celt, No. XXVIII, and bones 
of bear and pig. 
5. Bone implement (Plate XIII, fig. 3), possibly the broken shaft of an arrow or 
harpoon. Colour, pale brown ; length, 4:25 inches ; thickness, from -45 to :22 inch. 
Consists of a straight, rounded shaft, flattish on the opposite sides, broken or blunted 
at the thicker end, whence it diminishes towards the other end, which has a carved, 
pointed barb or prong projecting from it obliquely, the base of this prong being cut 
into as if by string. Beyond this prong the shaft is broken off, and another prong 
corresponding to the former appears to have been broken off the opposite side of 
the shaft. None of the original surface of the bone remains. Found 20th May, 
1879, 14 feet from the entrance by the left wall in the lower part of the brown 
earth. 
6. Chisel-shaped bone implement (Plate XIII., fig. 4). Colour, yellowish; traces 
of cale tufa adhering; not brittle; length, 4°8 inches. Formed from half of the distal 
portion of the metatarsus of a ruminant (probably ox), cleft down the middle, the 
distal extremity serving as a handle blurred as if by blows, and the point ground 
down to an edge on both sides. Found in April, 1879, in a crevice of the right 
wall about 8 feet from the entrance. This chink separated from the rest of the 
rock a huge mass of limestone that, on being undermined, fell down and disclosed 
the chisel. 
7. Portion of pointed bone implement (Plate XIII, fig. 6), broken across, flattish, 
rounded, like the point of a netting-needle. Length, 1°75 inch ; breadth, °6 inch ; 
thickness, °22 inch; colour, yellowish. Found, April, 1879, either in the brown 
earth or in the grey earth. 
8. Carved bone, probably a clasp for clothing (Plate XIII., fig. 9), formed from the 
