In the course of a conversation with the writer, the late Émile Cartailhac, of Toulouse, once expressed the opinion that, in localities where copper ore was plentiful and easily smelted, true Neolithic culture without the knowledge of the use of metal for purposes of tool-making was of brief duration as far as Europe and the Mediterranean basin were concerned. This applies to many parts of Spain, and we therefore should expect and do find a rich Aeneolithic culture flourishing over large areas of the country, while in neighbouring parts of Europe still only stone was employed for purposes of tool-making. It is important to study this culture, since it had its influence on the development of the early metal cultures elsewhere. Certainly a close connexion existed between parts of north-west Spain and Ireland from very early times, for certain engravings on rocks in Galicia recall some of those occurring in Ireland (e.g. those on the stone of Clonfin-lough). Further, a number of dolmens, resembling those found in many places in Ireland (e.g. those near Sligo), occur in very large numbers in many districts—notably in south-east Portugal, on the Spanish frontier.