J Roy Soc Antiq Ir 106

A detailed study has been made, by means of 19th century photographs and other evidence, of the four stages by which the brooch reached its present condition; numerous losses of decorated portions evidently occurred after 1868. The effect of these discoveries on general understanding of the brooch's entire decorative scheme is considered.

Of the 329 court cairns of Ireland eight have, set centrally within the cairn, a courtyard with chambers opening off opposite sides. All eight are newly planned and described. Found in Donegal, Sligo and Mayo they appear unitary in design rather than of multiple phases; the plan may have been to increase the amount of burial accommodation without altering the two-chamber concept. Such artefacts as they produce are Neolithic; a set of 14C determinations from Ballyglass suggest a date in mid 3rd millennium bc.