Excavations at Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin, 1956–1959

Abstract

Chapter I Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. them with consistency. Only those which are definitely significant are retained in the report. These numbers were written on the finds enclosed in a circle, and are given in brackets in the report, so that (20) means 'layer and area code number 20.' Finds of importance, e.g. metal artifacts, potsherds with definite features, were also given a find number. To distinguish between finds of different years, these began at 1 in 1957, at 500 in 1958, and at 2,000 in 1959. They are written on the finds enclosed in a triangle and are underlined in the report, so that 500 means 'find 500'. The position and depth of small finds were recorded. Sometimes they came up so fast that a single find number had to be given to several potsherds found together. Sometimes these have been divided up subsequently for purposes of identification by suffixing letters to the find number. Find spots were referred to by their distance from the north and the west sides of the site (or at Site II, square), and their depth below the surface. Thus N.2.00m. W.3.50m. d. -45m means 2-00 metres from the north side of the site, F.T.C.D., my supervisor of studies in 1955-58 for his leadership and aid, and