Books, Prehistory, Natural History of Ireland by Thomas Molyneux

When first the cave was opened, the bones of two dead bodies entire, not burnt, were found upon the floor, in likely hood the reliques of a husband and wife; whose conjugal affection had joyn'd them in their grave, as in their bed.

In each of the three cells was placed upon the ground, a broad and shallow cisfern, somewhat round, but rudely formed out of a kind of free-stone; they all were rounded a little at the bottom so as to be convex, and at the top were slightly hollowed, but their cavities contained but little; some of their brims or edges were sinuated or scolopt [scalloped], the diameter of these cisterns was more than two foot wide, and in their height they measured about eighteen inches from the floor.

The cell that lay upon the right hand was larger, and seemed more regular and finish'd than the rest; for rude as it was it shewed the workman: had spent more of his wild art and pains upon it, than the other two: the cistern it contained was better shaped, and in the middle of it was placed another smaller cistern, better wrought, and of a more curious make; and fill, for greater ornament, the stone that lay along as lintal, o'er the entrance of this cell was cut with many spiral, circular, and waved lines, that with their rude and shallow traces, covered the surface of the stone. This barbarous kind of carving l obeserved in many other places of this cave, promiscuously disposed of here and there, without the least rule or order but it was exprest nowhere with so much industry and profuseness, as on the stones belonging to this cell: yet tho’ they were so lavish of their art, not the least footsteps of writing, or any thing like characters were found in the whole work; which my convince us; that the Danes, then in this kingdom, were not masters of any letters; for had they been we might be sure they would not have fail'd to exprest them on so remarkable an occasion, as the compleating this extraordinary monument.

The basons in the several niches of the cave, were certainly designed for altars, to offer sacrifice upon to pagan Gods, in favour, of the dead: and being three in number, shew they wert dedicated, to the deities of the three prime idols, religiously adored by all nations of the north. That this is more than bare conjecture, appears by a passage in the author we have often mentioned, Olaus Wormius, where speaking of the heathen altars of the Danes, he says^k, They built their altars here with us of various fashions; it rarely happens one single altar is found alone, but often three together, rais'd to the honour of the tree chief idols.

Note k. Ararum structuraapud nos varia, raro unican solam invenies, sæpias tres brevi intervallo aseinvicem distantes, in honorem trium primariorun idolorum erectas. Olaii Wormii monument. Dnic. lib. 1. cap. 3. pag. 7.