Fig. [687], from the “Giant’s Grave,” on the Loughrey demesne, in county Tyrone, is of globular form, five inches in height, and decorated with vertical lines of indentations and encircling lines incised in the clay. Between the encircling lines at the top, as well as those at the bottom, are rows of square indentations; and inside the mouth is also ornamented.
Figs. 671 to 675.—From the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy.
Urns of a different character of ornamentation were discovered some years ago at Ballon Hill, between Fenagh and Tullow, county Carlow. Among these was one, more than fifteen inches in height, about fourteen inches in width at the mouth, and of “flower-pot” form, very similar to some English examples. It had two raised encircling ribs, and the upper part was ornamented with a chevron or zigzag pattern produced by impressed twisted thongs. Another was of bowl form with raised bands, and every part elaborately ornamented, the upper and lower parts bearing saltires alternating with incised lines; it was of much the same general form as the one engraved on Fig. [687]. Another, of more flowing form, whose outline took a graceful jar-like curve, gradually swelling outward from the contraction below the mouth and tapering down to the foot, was ornamented with impressed thongs and incised lines. Others were found which partook of the same general shapes as other examples here engraved, and were more or less ornamented with encircling lines, zigzag and other patterns, and impressed points, curves, &c.; one or two had raised knobs. One of the richest of “immolation urns,” about two and three-quarter inches in height (and filled with small burnt bones when found), of the Irish series, also brought to light in this interment, is engraved on Fig. [665]. Another remarkable urn (Fig. [666]), found at Cairn Thierna, county Cork (engraved in the Archæological Journal), has its outline totally different from others, and is elaborately and delicately ornamented over almost its entire surface.
Fig. [664] carefully represents an urn found some years back at a place called Yellow Jack’s Cairn, in the townland of Altegarron, on the slopes of Divis Mountain, near Belfast. It was five inches in height, and six in diameter at the mouth. The whole surface was richly decorated with incised and impressed lines, and other ornamentation; these are sufficiently well shown in the engraving, and therefore need no description.
Occasionally covers made of the same clay as the urns themselves, and ornamented in a similar manner, have been found. One remarkable example discovered at Danes Fort had a perfect cover, or lid, with a handle at the top.
Some of the most curious and certainly most interesting urns which have come under my notice, were found at Drumnakilly, near Omagh, county Tyrone, in 1872–3, and have been described and figured by Mr. Wakeman. The first of these, Fig. [676], 3 feet 6 inches in circumference at the mouth, and of proportionate height, is elaborately ornamented with incised lines, “exactly of that class which we find upon the golden ornaments and other antiquities of pre-historic times preserved in our museums;” its outline bears a graceful curve from the mouth, swelling out in the middle, and gradually tapering down to the foot. Around the upper part is a series of perpendicular broad indentations with herringbone pattern between; next follow a number of encircling lines, scoriated between; and the middle part of the urn is ornamented with zigzag and other lines. Another of pretty much the same general form (Fig. [679]) but devoid of ornament, contained within it an immolation urn (Fig. [680]). Another (Fig. [682]) is unique in its ornamentation; “its neck and lip, though exquisitely proportioned, are devoid of ornament, while the body of the vessel is encircled by a network pattern executed in bold relief; the substance of this pattern is different from, and finer in quality than, that of which the rest of the urn was composed. It is evident upon even a slight examination that this raised ornament was added after the formation and fire-hardening of the vessel, from portions of which it is easily detached.” It contained a smaller urn, both being as usual filled with burned bones. Fig. [677], 3 feet 9 inches in circumference at the neck, has an overlapping rim with a remarkably elegant outline. Figs. [681, 683, 685], of much the same form as Fig. [682], have incised lines round the neck, the body of the latter being covered with a reticulated ornament. Figs. [681 and 683] are of the same general form, but extremely rich in ornamentation.
Figs. 676 to 680.—From Drumnakilly, Co. Tyrone.
