Shetelig, Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland

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4/146

I


5/146

THE

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

FUND OF 1919

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES

IN

GREAT

BRITAIN

AND

IRELAND

EDITED

BY

HAAKON

SHETELIG

PART

IV

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES IN

ENGLAND

WITH A

SUPPLEMENT

OF

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES

ON THE CONTINENT

OF

WESTERN

EUROPE

BY

ANATHON BJ0RN

AND

HAAKON SHETELIG

OSLO 1940

H.

ASCHEHOUG

6?

CO-

(\V. NYGAARD)


6/146


7/146

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES

IN

GREAT

BRITAIN

AND

IRELAND

PART

IV


8/146

Digitized

by

the

Internet

Archive

in

2009

with

funding

from

Boston

Public

Library

http://www.archive.org/details/vikingantiquitie04scie


9/146

THE

SCIENTIFIC

RESEARCH

FUND

OF 1919

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES

IN GREAT

BRITAIN AND

IRELAND

EDITED

BY

HAAKON

SHETELIG

PART

IV

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES

IN ENGLAND

WITH

A

SUPPLEMENT

OF

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES

ON THE

CONTINENT

OF

WESTERN

EUROPE

BY

ANATHON

BJ0RN AND

HAAKON SHETELIG

OSLO

1940

H.

ASCHEHOUG & CO-

(W.

NYGAARD)


10/146

Hi

S/nru.

\'f

u

^4

Q

Printed

in

Norway

AS

JOHN GRIEGS BOKTRYKKERI.

BERGEN


11/146

1

CONTENTS.

— Page

PREFACE

7

I. GRAVE

FINDS

9

II.

GOLD

AND

SILVER

27

III.

SINGLE ANTIQUITIES

55

IV.

FINDS

FROM

OLD CITIES

75

(LONDON.

YORK.

LINCOLN).

VIKING

ANTIQUITIES

ON

THE CONTINENT

OF WESTERN

EUROPE

101

I.

GRAVE

FINDS

105

II.

SINGLE

ANTIQUITIES

115

ABBREVIATIONS

132

INDEX

OF

PLACE-NAMES

133


12/146


13/146

PREFACE.

The

following

records

of

English

Viking

an,tiquitie.s

were collected

by

the

undersiigned

Anathon

Bjorn

during

a

voyage in

England

in the

months

May

to

July

1925,

after

a

preparatory

review

of

archaeological literature

and

periodi-

cals

connected with the subject.

Further the

undersigned

Shetelig,

having

collected

inforaiiations

of

Viking

antiquities

during

his

previous

visits

to

Eng-

land,

was

charged with the

task

to

revise and

amplify

the

notes

for

publica-

tion. We

here

express our

most

sincere

thanks

for

all

the

kindness

shown

to us

during

our

studies in

English

museums

and

collections,

and

we

are

extremely

indebted

to

English

archaeologists

for most

valuable and

active

assistance.

Mr.

Reginald

A. Smith,

then

Keeper

of

British

and

Medieval

Antiquities

at

the

British Musieum^

took

an'

interest in our

enterprise

from

the

first,

and

oontinually gave

us

the

assistance

of

his

rich experience and

teaming.

Mr.

T.

D.

Kendrick,

his

successor

at

the

British Museum has

in

the

most

liberal

way

•given

us

access

to

his own

collections

of

notes

on

Viking

Antiquities

found

in

England.

Equally

we are

indebted

to

Dr.

R.

E. Mortimer Wheeler

of the

London Museum,

and to

Mr. Quintin

Waddington of

the

London

Guildhall

Museum.

Mr.

E. Thw'low

Leeds

has

called our attention

to

Norse

antiquities

in the

Ashmolean

Museum,

Oxford,

while Mr.

Louis

C. G.

Clark,

then

Director

of

The

University Museum

of Archaeology

and

Ethnology,

Cambridge,

and

Professor Ellis H.

Minns,

president

of

the board

of that museum,

have

given

us

all

possible facilities

to

study their

collections. Dr. Walter E.

Col-

linge,

Keeper

of the

Yorkshire

Museum, York,

has been

most

helpful to

us

in

providing

materials

from

among

the

antiquities

found

in

York,

and

the

same was

done for the

Isle

of' Man by Mr. Basil

R.

S.

Megaw, Curator of

the

Manx

Museum, Douglas. Our

special

thanks are

also

due

to

Miss M.

O'Reilhj,

assistent

keeper

of the Cambridge

Museum, and

Mr.

T.

C. Lethbridge of

Cam-

bridge, for

providing

us

with much valuable

informations.

Occasional contributions

have, of

course,

been brought

us

from

many

sour-

ces

besides

those mentioned

above.

To

all friends of our

enterprise

we

express

our

deep sense

of

indebtedness and

gratitude.

Anathon

Bjorn.

Haakon

Shetelig.


14/146


15/146

T.

G

R

AVE

FINDS


16/146


17/146

GRAVE

FINDS.

West Ham, near Basingstoke. Hants.

A

grave

generally described

as

Anglo Saxon,

but

in

the

author's

opinion

more probably

dating from

the Viking Period. It is

described

by Reginald

A.

Smith

as

follows:

—

Interment

discovered

1899

in

a

cutting

of

the

Alton Light

Railway.

The

skeleton

was

extended

but

probably

not

orientated,

and

with

it

were

found

portions

of

a

bronze

bowl about 9 inches in diameter,

an

iron

vessel

(bowl

with

hamdle)

a

knife,

spear

and

lance-heads,

and several draughtsmen

stained

greem by

contact with

bronze.

The

bronze bowl

retains

in

one

place

the

rivet

marks

and outline of a

birdshaped escutcheon,

a

second having been

found

but

subsequently

lost.

The

enamel

is

nearly

perfect,

but

the

colours

are

indistinguishable. Inside the

bowl,

the base

is engraved

with

a

rosette

pattern formed by

intersecting circles

struck from 19 centres. Mr.

Smith

also

points

to the

resemblance

of this bowl to specimens

found

from the

Viking

period

in

Norway.

Amiong

the

other

antiquities

found,

the

iron

bowl

with

handle

is

a

type

well

known

in

Norwegian Viking

burials

(V. J.

G.

fig.

440).

The

spear-heiadis

are

less

distinct,

but the

knife

presents the form

of

the

Merovingian

scramiasaxa,

which

in

Norway

survived into

the

9th

century.

Literature:

Proc.

S.

A.

L. 2 S.

XII

pp.

79—80.

Reading

Berkshire.

Burial

discovered

in

the

bank

of the

Tliames,

and

thus

described

by

J. Y. Akerman:

—

>A

sword was

found

in June

1831,

in the ballast

pit

at

Reading about

a

hundred

yards

from

the

end

of

Ihe

engine-sheds,

about

two

to

three

feet

below

the

surface

of the

ground.

When

found

it

was

bent

into the

curve

of the

ribs

of

a

horse

the skeleton

of

which was

upon

it,

just

as if the fall of the

horse

had

bent

it.

The

sword

wais double-edgied,

and the point

was central;

when

found

the hilt, which

was of

ivory, was in

a

very

good

condition;

but

the

greater

part

almost

immediately

crumbled

away. The

bones

of

both

man

and

horse

were

quite

perfect.

The

pommel

and guard of

the

sword

are

formed

of

a

metal

resembling

pale copper,

inlaid with

silver,

the former being

omameoited

with

what appear

to

be imperfectly

executed

figures

of

men and animals«.


18/146

12

Grave

Finds

Judging fram the illuistna'tLcp,

the omiamenit

may miost probably be

claEsed

as

a

typical

spyecimen

of the

Norse-Carolingian

»gripping-beast« style

of

the

early 9th

century.

A

sword-guard

of

cast silver

and

partly

gilt

shows

a

decora-

tion

of

similar

design

and

style.

It

was

found

in

Halland,

Sweden

(Stockholm

Mus.

Inv.

nr.

6214).

The

sword

seems

to

be lost. The association

of the

sword

with

skeletons

of

man

and horse

is

best

explained

on the

theory

of

a

Scandinavian interment.

Literature:

Proc.

S.

A. L.

Ill

(1864—67)

p.

461.

Magdalen

Bridge,

Oxford.

(Ashmolean

Museum 1886.

443

—

47).

A pair

of

stirrups

with

imlaid

decoration

of

scrollwork,

a

horseshoe,

shears,

spear-head,

shield-boss,

spur,

bones

of men

and

horses, were

found

1884 in

the

river

Cherwell

at

Magdalen

Bridge.

The

date

of the

stirrups

is

9th

century;

and

the association,

if

reliable,

may

indiicate

a

Scandinavian

interment.

Literature:

Archaeologia vol. 71

(1920—21)

p.

253.

Walthamstow,

Essex

(British

Museum).

Some fragments of iron

rivets

from

a

vessel.

Mr. Kendrick

of

the

British

Museum; has kindly supplied

the

following

itaiformaticn:

A

Viking ship

was

foimd

in ICOO in the Lea

valley between

Tottenham

and

Walthamistow

measuring

about 40

feet in

length. It

is

said

to

have been

overturned

with

a

skeleton

lying

beneath

her,

this

accompanied

by

a

well-known

Viking

sword

figured

by

Sir

Guy

Laking,

European

Arms

and Armour

I,

fig.

20;

and

by

R. E. Mortimer

Wheeler,

London

and

the

Vikings,

fig.

15. Here

the

locality

is given

as

Enfield in the

river Lea,

near

London.

The sword

is now

in

the

Prince

Ladislaus

Odescalchi

Collection

at

Rome.

The

blade is

two-edged, the

handle

of

Jan

Petersen type

C

(Wheeler

type II),

dating

from

the

first

half of

the

9th

century.

The

peculiar

arrangement

of the burial,

with

the

vessel

overturned

over

the

body,

is known from

a

small

number

of

graves in Norway,

see

Shetelig

Osebergfundet

I,

p.

238,

cf.

Undset in

Foreningen

til

norske

Fortidsmindes-

merkers

Bevaring,

Aarsberetning

1872,

p.

8

—

9.

Santon

Doionham,

Norfolk

(British

Museum).

a)

Sword

of

the form Rygh

505,

Jan

Petersen

type

L

(Wheeler type

V),

the guard and the

pommiel

both

curving outwards

fromi

thai

grip, amd

the

lobes

of the

pommel

being distinct. No traces of

silver decoration are

now

left.

The

blade

is

tapering.

Fig. 1.

b)

A

pair of

tortoise

bronze brooches

of the

type

Rygh

652

—

654,

being

the ordinary

Scandinavian

form of

the

10th

century.


19/146

Grave

Finds 13

Fig.

1.

Sword

from a

grave

at

Santon

Downham.

Norfolk.

The

swoind

is

Anglo-Saxon,

but

14

specimeins of

this

type

have been

found in

graves

in

Norway,

where

they

are

staited

to

diate

from the

seoonid

hialf

of

the 9th

oenlury.

The aissociaftioiru

suggests

la

double

interment

of

a

man

ainld

ai

woimiain

in

onei

grave.

Literature:

Archaeologia,

vol.

L.,

p.

531;

B.

M.

Guide

to

Anglo-Saxon

Antiquities,

p.

94.

Pembroke,

Wales.

Ship

fo'unid at

the miouth

of Uie Usk,

described

by

Octavius

Morgan,

F.

S.

A.

Between Dhie

mouths

of

the

rivens

Usk

and

Ebbw

the

workmen

'eingaged

in

excavaiting pondis

at a

dock

dfeooveiried

a

portion of

the side

of

an

ancient ship,

which

waisi retaiined

in an

upright

posiition by

shiarpened

rough

oak

stakes

driven

into

the

soil

beneath.

The

vessel

found

was

clinker-built with

Orak

planks,

of

no

'gnneiat

thickness, fastened

together with

broad-headled

inani mails,

which

hiad

all perished,

the

metal

having

beien

ooiniverted

into

oxide.

There were

also

occasional

lainge holes

to

receive

trenaiills.

Between the

planks

some

of the

caulking

was

found,

which was

of

diark

wool. Nothing

like

pitch

ajjpears to

have

been found.

A shipbuilder lanid the miaster

of

the

dock,

who examined

the remains, stated

that

there were

traces of ribs

oni the

inner

side

of the

planking,

which were evidently

about

two

anid

a

half

inches in

width.

The

vessel

may

have

been

about

taevemty feet long, aind from

seventeen to

twenty

feet

broad;

and

apparently

it

was

constructed

mioire for

spaed than strength as it must

have been

only

isililghtly

put together.

The wood

was

what is

termed

Dantzic timber,

the

Bngilish

oak

being

closer, harder

and more compact;

and

the vessel

conisequently

must

have been

of foreign

build.


20/146

14

Grave

Finds

Fig.

2.

Axe-head

from the

churchyard

oi Repton.

Derbyshire.

Mr.

Morgan

conclud&d

from

all these

circumstainces

that

it

was

most

probably

a

vessel

which formed

part

of one of the Danish fleets

which

invaded

that part of the country on

several

occasions.

The

excavation

took

place

in

a

portion

of

the coiastlaind containing

a

number

of

Scandinavian

place-names.

The

spot is

now more than half

a

mile

distant

from

the river

Ebbw,

and

more

than

a

mile from

the

Usk.

The

fragments of

the

boiat

seem

to

be lost,

and

no

other antiquities

are

reported

as

found

on

the

same

occasion.

It is not

unlikely

however that

the

discovery represents the scanty remains

of

a

Norse

burial

arranged

in

a

ship,

that

had

been

long ago

robbed

of

its

other

equipment. Tlie workmen assumed

that the

ship

bad been

brought

into

position

to

form

a

kind of dam

or

embankment.

Literature:

Proc. Royal Archaeological Institute,

June

1878.

Repton, Derbyshire.

Viking

axe-head,

probably

from

a grave,

found

at

Repton.

Large axe-head

of

the

type

Rygh

fig. 561,

Jan Petersen,

type

E

(Wheeler

type

V)

found

October 1923

at

the

Saxon

church

of Repton.

The

late

Professor

Baldwin

Brown

gave

the

following report

of

the

discovery.

At

Repton

there

is

a

late

Saxon

church

which

replaces

an

earlier one

that

is said to

have

been

destroyed by

the Danes

when

they

wintered

at

Repton

in

874.

Cloise

to

the

comer of the present

Saxon

chancel, which

has

below

it

a

crypt

that

embraces

remains

of the

older church, there came

to light

an

iron

axe-head

at

a depth

of

five feet

below

the

ground.

Fig

2.


21/146

Gr av

e

F ind

s

15

The

iron

is

badly

corroded and

the

socket

is

broken,

but

the

type is

clearly

recognizable, exactly

like

the

illuistration ini

Rygh's

aitlas. The

type

chiefly

covers the second

half

of the

9th

century.

No definite

indications

of

a

burial

were

noticed'

at

the discovery,

but

a

certaih

number

of

similar

cases

give

reason

to

believe that burials in

the

churchyards

were

not

unknown

to

the

Norsemen

settling

in

Britain.

Nottingham (British

Museum

Tr.

158).

a)

Sword of

Jan

Peterisen type

X,

badly

corroded and

pioint

of

blade

misising.

b) The

poimmel

of

another

sword.

c)

Unusually

large

spear-head of the

winged

Carolingian

type

(Jam

Peter-

sen

type

C

—

D).

The point

and

the

ediges

are

damaged

by

corrosion, but

the

length

is

still

62.2

cms.

Spears

of

this

type are

very

common

in

Norwegian

graves

of the

9th

century.

Fig.

3.

Literature:

Archaeological Journal, VIII,

p.

425. Here,

the spear

is

recor-

ded

as

found

together

with

sworfs

in

two

burials

at

Nottingham. The

associa-

tion

of

the

three items is

given

according

to thfe

catalo'gue

of

the

museum.

Camphill near Bedale,

Yorkshire

(British

Musieum

1875,

4

—

3

—

169).

Sword

of

the

Wallimigford type,

Jan

Petersen

type

L,

Rygh,

fig.

505.

The

blade is fragmentary

and

the pommel

is

missing.

Spear-head

of

the

long

and

slender form

characteristic

of

the

later

Viking

period. The two

pieces

were

acquired

as

found

together, though with

no further

information

about

the

discovery. The

aissooiation,

if

reliable, may

suggest

a

Nonse grave

of

the

late 9th century.

Fig.

4.

Northallerton,

Yorkshire

(National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh

I.

M.

1).

One

of

a

pair of

bronze

tortoise

brooches

of the

type

Rygh

652,

8 cms.

long

by 5

cms.

wide. Four

of the

kiniobs

are

miisising,

but otherwise,

the

brooch

is in

a

perfect

state of

preservation.

Tlie brooches

were

reported

as

found

with

a

skeleton

near

Northallierton,

but

mo

further

information

is

available.

Fig.

5.

Claughton

Hall,

near

Garstang,

Lancashire (Claughton Hall),

Grave discovered

1822.

a) Pair

of

bronze-gilt

tortoise-brooches

of

the type

Rygh

652,

the

normal

Scandinavian

type

of

the

10th

century.

Fig.

6.

b)

A

silver-gilt

and nielloed ornamented

mount

that

measures IV,

inches

in

length,

now

converted

into

a

brooch

by

the

addition

of

a

hinged pin. It

is

oval

in shape,

has

a

projection

at one end

for

the reception

of

two fastening


22/146

16

Grave

Finds

Fig.

3.

Sword and

spear-head,

found

in

two

burials

at

Nottdngiham.


23/146

Grave Finds

17

Fig. 4.

Sword

and

spear-head

found

together

at

Cainphil

near Bedale.

Yorkshire,

2

—

Viking

Antiquities

IV.


24/146

18 Gr

av

e

F ind

s

rivets,

and

two

other

rivet-holes,

one

of

which

has been

mutilated,

in the

middle

of

the

slightly

waisted

sides. It

is

hollowed

underneath, while

the

upper surface bears

a

cast ornament

consisting

of three

pairs

of

flower-like

scrolls

and

a pair of

curving

leaves,

all

tied by

heavy

bindings

on

to

a

central

stem,

the whole being

in relief against

a

sunken field.

Probably

of Caro-

lingian

metalwork.

c)

Two

glass beads.

The

site

was

a

low

mound

of

sand

about half

a

mile

to

the

east

of

the

main

road

between

Preston

and Lancaster, 10

miles north of Preston.

The

mound

in

all

probability

was

a

Bronze

Age barrow, since

the finds included

a

stone

axe-hammer

of a

well-known Bronze Age

type,

and

a

cinerary

um

(now lost)

containing

burnt bones. Tlie Viking Period

remains,

described

above,

were

found

in

a

wooden

chest

at

a

depth

of

two

or three

feet

below

the

surface,

and

certainly

belonged

to

a

secondary

burial

in

the

mound.

An

iron

axe,

an

iron

hammer,

a

sword,

and

a

spear-head are said

to have been found on

the

same

occasion,

but are now missing.

Literature:

T.

D. Kendrick, The Clauigthon

Hall Brooches,

Saga

Book

of

the

Viking

Society,

vol.

XI.

part

II

(1935) p.

117.

Rampside,

Lancashire

(Municipal

Museum, Barrow-in-Furness).

A

sword

of the simplest

form,

having

the

hilit

with straight

cross-pieces

and no capping

to the pommel,

Rygh,

fig.

489, Jan

Petersen

type

M

(Wheeler

type

I). The sword was

founjd

iini

Rampside

churchyard,

and probably repre-

sents

an

instance

of

a

Norse

burial

in

a

then existing

churchyard. The

type

of the

sword

is assigned

to the

second

half

of

the

9th

century.

Literature:

Year

Book

of the

Viking

Club

I,

1909,

p.

57.

Ormside

near Ajjpleby, Westmoreland (The

Tullie House Museum,

Carlisle.

24—98)

The

Ormside

Burial.

a)

Sword

of the

simple

form

Rygh,

fig.

489,

Jan

Petersen

type M.

(Whee-

ler

type

I), haivinig

the

hilt

with two

straight

cross-pieces.

The total

length

is

35V'2

inches,

the

blade 31

inches,

two'-edged, somewhat

corroded and broken

by

the

sexton

in

getting

it

out.

b)

Shield-boss,

6%

inches

in

diameter by

BVa

inches

high, of marked coni-

cal form

rising

directly

from

a plain

flanige,

IV^

inches wide,

irregularly

pierced

for

attachment

to

the shield.

Three

nails

remain.

c)

Fragment

of

an iron

rod,

IIV'2

inches

long, semitubular

in

section,

and

pierced

with four

rivets

at

regular intervals of 21/2 inches.

d)

Small

iron

knife,

now

lost.

The

grave was

found

in the

churchyard

at

Ormside

in the

course

of

grave-

digging

1898. It

contained

a

skeleton,

which wais

not

disturbed,

accompanied


25/146

Grave

Finds

19

Fig.

5.

Tortoise

brooch

from

Northallerton,

Yorkshire.

by

the

antiquities

described above.

The

nature

of

the

site

precluded

a

full

examination,

but

the grave does

not

seem

to

have been

more richly

furnished.

The

date,

as

given by the sword, should be

the

second

half

of

the 9lh

century.

This

is not

contradicted by the

form

of

the

shield-boss.

The

same

type

of

shield-boss

is

predominant

at

Kilmainham,

and

is known

also from

Norse

graves

in

Coloinisay

and

Islay.

Most

probably

it

is

an

Irish

type

adopted

by the

Norse

settlers

in

these

regions.

Literature:

A Catalogue of

Objects

of the

Viking

Period

in

the

Tullie

House

Museum,

Carliisle.

By

Dr.

J.

D.

Cowen.

The Cumberland

and

West-

mioreland

Antiquarian

and

Archaeological

Soc.

Transactions,

vol.

XXXIV,

New

Series, 1934.

—

Proc.

S.

A. L.

XVII

(1898), p.

194.

Hesket-in-Forest,

near

Carlisle, Cumberland (The Tullie

House

Museum,

Oarliisle

RF

389—420)

The Hesket

Burial.

a)

Sword,

36i4

inches long,

the

blade broken in

two

and

the

point

mis-

sing.

The

guard

is

encased

in

silver plating engraved with

a

ring-chain

pat-

tern:

a similar

casing appears

to

have

melted from the

pommel-bar.

The

pommel-knob

is

missing.

Jan

Petersen^

type

0,

with

the

five-lobed

pommel.

Rygh, fig.

507

(Wheeler

type

IV).

b)

Spear-head,

\TU

inches

long, the

tip

missing.

Down

the

socket,

which


26/146

20

Grave Finds

is closed

and

unortnamented, are at least

seven

pairs

of

rivet-holes. Several

bronze

rivets

reimiain insiide the socket.

Jan

Petensen

type

I, Rygh,

fig.

521.

c)

Spear-head 11

inches

long, bent

in

the niiididile. Spaced

at

intervals

along

the

closed socket

are

at

least

six groups of close-set

rings in

low relief,

each group pierced

by

a

pair of

rivet-holes.

A

single

bronze

rivet

correctly

centred projects

on

each

side

of

the

socket.

Jan

Petersen

type F.

d)

Shields-boss c.

Si^

inches

m

diiaimeter, broken

in

two

and

diaimatged

by fire.

e) Axe-head

TU

inches long

of the

type Rygh,

fig. 561.

Jan

Petersen

type

E

(Wheeler

type

V).

f)

Bit

2

inches

over

all,

of

iron

formerly

plated

with bronze,

which

has

been dissolved by

the

action of

fire.

g)

Buckle

2

inches

wide, rectangular, wanting

the

tongue,

with

a

small

angular

projection

from

the centre

of

one

of the

longer

sides.

h)

Buckle

2^U

inches long

over all, circular, wantitig

the tongue.

The

buckle-plate

to hold the

end

of the strap

is

still

attached.

i)

Sickle

Sli

inches

long.

k) Whetstone

4:V-2

inches

long,

with

square

section.

1)

Bone comb and

comb-case

fragmentary,

the largest piece,

Wg

inches

long,

probably

about

10 inches long

when

complete.

The back and

case

carry

bands of angular interlacing,

and

spandrels

at

the

ends are filled

with

crosshatching.

m) A pair

of

spurs,

now lost.

This

burial

was

uncovered 1822

in

the

course of road

widening

operations

within

a

mile of

Hesket-in-the-Forest. The

grave

had

been

cov^ered

by

a

cairn

of stones about 22 feet

in

diameter,

and among

the

stones

uncovered by

the

roadmen

were fragments of

several

querns.

The

cairn

provided

evidence

of

careful construction, the burial deposit being

covered

by

large

stones

set

close together, and these

in

turn

covered by

smaller

stones,

regularly

disposed.

The

remains were found lying within

a

circle some 14

feet

in

diameter,

in a

layer

of

burnt

matter

which

contained

charcoal,

bone?

and

ashes,

and

which

rested

directly

upon

an

apparently

untouched

bed

of

very

fine

dry sand.

The

precise

disposition, however,

of the

several

objects

was

not

noticed.

It

is

clear that most of

the

objects

have passed

through

great

heat,

as

seen from

the condition

of the

iron and the

silver plating

of the

hilt

of

the sword.

In

places

the silver

has

run into

small pellets,

and

on

the

pommel-bar

it has almost

entirely disappeared.

Possibly

the

same

applies

to

the bronze

plating of the

bit. In

addition some

of

the

objects

have

been

intentionally

damaged

before burial.

The

sword was bent nearly

flat,

once

across

the middle

of

the

blade, and again

near the

point;

one of the

spears


27/146

Grave

Finds

21

Fig.

6.

Pair of

tortoise

brooches

from

tlie C'laiisjliton

Hall

burial,

Lancashire.

was

purposely

bent,

amid the

shield-boss

had

received

a

fierce

dint. This

custom is

very oommon

in

Norwegian Viking

graves after

cremation

(0.

Rygh,

Om

den jTigre

Jemalder

i

Norge, Aarb.

f.

nord. Oldk. 1877

pp.

181

—

190,

fig.

1-10).

The

comb alone

had not

been

exposed

to

the heat

of

the

pyre,

a

feature

which

is

known

from

similar

graves in

Western Norway, especially

in

Nord-

fjord (e.

g.

the ship burial

of

Myklebostad, Eid, Lorange, Samlingen

av

Nonisfce

Oldsaiger

i

Bergens

Museum,

p.

155 and

a

grave

at

Bo,

Ereim, B.

6688).

Literature: Dr.

J.

D. Cowen. A Catalogue of

Objects

of the

Viking

Period

in

the

Tullie

House Mutseum,

Carlisle,

The

Cumberland

and

Westmoreland,

Antiquarian

and

Archaeological

Society's Transactions,

vol. XXXIV, New

Series,

1934.

Workingtov,

Lake District,

Cumberland.

Sword

31

1

J

inches long,

bent

and

broken.

The

pommel, tang and

guard

still

remiain pretty

complete

and

continous with

the

blade.

The

pommel

is


28/146

22

Grave

Finds

dome-shaped,

and the guard is straight,

5^4

inches

long. Jan

Petersen's

types

W—

X

of

the 10th

century. Remains

of

the

scabbard

are

rusted

on

to

the

blade.

The

sword was found

in

making

a

road

about

80 yards

north

of

the

Derwent, on

a

gravel

bank

called

Oysterbanks.

No

further

information

about

the circumstances

of the find is

available,

but

the character

of

the

site

miakes

it

most

likely that

the

sword

had been

deposited

with

a

Viking in-

terment.

Literature:

Saga

Book

of

the

Viking

Club III,

p.

302.

Cambois, Bedlington,

Northumberland (British

Museum).

a)

A

circular

brooch with bronze border

m relief and the

centre

of sunk

enamel having

the

figure

of a

bird

with

a

branch

in its

beak.

b)

A bone comb of Scandinavian type,

with

whiphandle.

Found

together

in

a

barrow

near

Bedlington.

Literature:

Brit.

Mus.

Anglo-Saxon,

Guide,

p.

101,

fig.

121.

Ballaugh, Isle

of

Man

(National

Museum

of

Antiquities,

Edinburgh

L.

B.

5).

A

fragment

of a

sword

consisting

of the hilt and part of

the

blade, dug

up

in

1824 from

a

depth of six

or

seven

feet in

gravel

in

the

village

of Ballaugh.

The

type is

Jan

Petersen

L

(Wheeler V) the pommel-knob

now

missing.

The

sword

is

badly corroded, the blade

broken

and

defective.

Length of

the

fragment

29.5

cms.

the

guard

9 cms.

An

iron

Sipeiar-head

was

associated

with

the sword,

and very likely

the

deposit

repreisents

a

burial

in

a

low biarrow.

The

spear-heiad

cannot

now

be

traced.

Literature:

Proc.

S.

A.

Scot.

X,

p.

567;

The

Journal

of

the

Manx

Museum

III,

p.

235.

Jurby,

Isle

of

Man.

Part of

a

Viking

sword

with

straight guards

and

a

three-lobed

pommel

was

found

in

digging

a

grave

in

the

parish

churchyard.

It

was re-interred

by

the

vicar,

but

the

type

is clear

from

a

sketch

made

at the

time.

Literature:

The

Journal of

the

Manx Mus. Ill,

s. 235.

Kirk Michael,

Isle

of

Man

(The

Manx

Museiun,

Douglas,

Reg.

No.

3743).

A

slender

iron

socketed spear-head, belonging

to Jan

Petersen type

K.

The surface

has

been much

damaged;

and

the

base of the

socket,

the

edges

and

point

of

the blade are

wanting.

It

was

found when digging

a

grave

in Michael

Churchyard,

April

1885.

Literature:

The

Journal

of

the

Manx

Museum.

Vol.

Ill,

p.

235.


29/146

G

r av

e

F ind

s

23

Old

Kirk

Braddan,

Isle

of

Man

(The

Manx Museum).

The

upper

part of

a

Viking

sword

with guard

and

pommel

missing

dug

out

of a

grave

on the north

side

of

Kirk Braddaii

churchyard.

,

Literature:

The

Journal

of

the

Manx Museum

III,

p.

235.

St. Maughold,

Isle

of

Man

(National Museum of

Antiquities,

Edinburgh

L.

B.

6).

A portion

of the hilt end

of

a

sword

which

was dug

up

in

the

churchyard

of

St.

Maughold

in

September 1824. The type

is Jan

Petersen

L (Wheeler V).

Leuigth of

the

fnaigment

ais now preserved 16.3 cms.,

the

guard 10

cms.

The

pommel knob raisising.

The

find very

likely

represenits

an

example

of

a

Viking

burial

in

a

Christian Churchyard.

Literature: Proc.

S.

A.

Scot,

X,

p.

569. The

Journal

of the

Manx

Museum^

Vol.

Ill,

p.

235,

ibid.

Knoc-y-doonee,

Atjre, Isle

of

Man

(The

Manx

Museum,

Douglas

Reg.

No.

2774)'.

Grave-find from

a

mound

on

Knoc-y-doonee.

a) Sword,

a

little

over

36 inches

long,

with

remains

of

decayed

wood

of

the

scabbard.

The

blade

is

two-edged,

the

hajidle

of the type Jan

Petersen

X,

Rygh

501,

the pommel dome-shaped and

straight guard.

It

is

much

rusted

and broken

in

several

places.

b)

Spear-head,

17

—

18

inches

long,

badly rusted

and

now

fragmentary.

c)

Axe-head,

7Y2

inches

long

by 5 inches across the cutting

edge,

witii

remains

of its

wooden

handle in the

socket. The

type

is Jan

Petersen

G,

Rygh

565,

the

.symmetrical axe,

Wheeler IV. The blade

is

mioderately

expanded, and there have been

spur-projections

at

the

socket.

d)

Fragments

of a

shield-boss,

sufficient:

to

show

that it

was

plain

of

cup

form,

measuring 7

inches

by

S^i,

with

a

flat rim

1 inch

wide and

having

wood

adhering.

Type

Rygh

562.

e)

Bowl

of

iron, 15

inches by

5

inches

deep, with

rounded

base.

The

sand

adhering

with the

rust

showed

distinct

impressions of

canvas round

the

mouth.

Rygh

731.

f)

Hammer

of cross-plane type, 5

inches long by 1

inch

wide and

IVi

inch

high.

Rygh 394

but

the

present specimen

more dumpy.

g)

Smith's

tongs.

15'

j

inches

long, of a type still in

use.

Rygh

390.

h)

Two

knives

with

bone

handles,

measuring

7^4

inches

and 5

inches.

Rygh,

fig. 407.

i)

Harness

links

of

iron,

with

remains

of

leather

straps:

two

D-shaped

links,

21

o

inches

high by l'/„;

triangular

link

2'

i inches

by

3I4;

Y-shaped

iron

3''^4

inches by

3;

a

broken

piece

of

iron

3'

1

by

2^

j.


30/146

24

G

r

av

e

F ind

s

k)

Fingheaded

pin

of

bronze,

the

rimg

IVo

inch

diameter.

One

side

of

the

ring

is

broken

off and

the

pin is broken

at

the

hinge.

The

ring

looks

as

though it

had been omament-ed

with enamel.

1)

Two

pairs

of

bronze

strap

protectors,

each

pair

connected

by

a

ring,

and

ornamented

with

a

simple

engraved

pattern

of lines

and short

strokes.

—

Two foldied strap-protectors

about

3

inches

long.

—

Three

plain

strap-ends.

Two

plain

studs,

set

in

leather, ^4

inch

diameter.

—

All of bronze

and evidently

a

set

of

belt

'mountings.

A

siomewhait

sionilair

set wais

founid

imi

a

Viking grave

at

Kilorain Bay, Colonsay

(p^art

II,

fig.

30),

tliough

of

more

elaborate work.

m)

Very

small bronze-fragments,

possibly from

the bridle.

n) Lead weight

for

a

fishing

line, 4 inches long

by

IVs

inch across

the

squane

base.

It

is pierced'

at the top for

euspiension

on the line, anid

dia-

gonally

below

for attachment

of

a

mood.

o)

About

300 iron

rivets from

a

boat,

most of them having decayed wood

attached.

They

measure

from

lH

inch

to

21/2 inches

long;

one

was

3

inches,

and

a

few

were

3^4,

4

and 5

inches.

The

round

grass-covered

moimd on

Knoc-y-doonee

was 51 ft.

diameter,

the height

above the

level

of

the field between

7

and

8

ft.;

of this

however

12

inches

to

24

inches

was due to

removal

of the

sand

around

the

base.

Above

the

original surface was

revealed

a

layer

6 ft. 8

inches

thick, of

small

stones

at

2

to

3 ft.

below

the grassy surface of

the

mound. This proved

to

be

the edge

of

a

vaulted

covering,

rising

gradually

to the

centre

and

protecting

the

contents

buried

under

this

part

of

the

mound.

This

roofing

of

small

stones

had been

sprinkled with

pieces

of

broken

white shore-pebbles

from the

size

of

a

walnut

to

that

of

a

goose's

egg,

possibly

to

bind

and consolidate

the

material

before

heaping

the

sand

over it.

The

iron

rivets

were found

scattered

in

a

high

brown

layer

of

decayed

wood

at the base of the mound.

To judge

from

the

position

of

the rivets

the

boat

had

been

some

28

to

30

ft.

long

by

6

to 8

ft. wide;

its

height,

as

indicated

by

the rivet

first

found

which

was

in

the

covering

layer

of

small

stones,

might

have

been

about

3 ft. It was placed roughly

in

the

centre of the

mound,

the

stem

pointing towards siouth-west.

The weapons,

the

bronze

pin and

buckles,

fraigments

of

a

leather

strap with bronze

mountings

(1)

were found

close

together

in the middle

of

the boat.

The

brown

layer

here

was coated

with

flakes

of a black

finely-powdered

substance,

possibly

decayed

animal

matter;

and

from

this

two

small fragments of

a

human skull

were recovered.

At

a

point

5 ft. south-west of these was the

ironi

bowl

with

one

of

the

knives

alongside

of

it.

A

foot farther

forward

was the

hammer,

the

smith's

tongs,

another

knife and the

weight

for

a

fishing

line.

Close

to the

stem

a

number

of

small boulders

had

been

piled

into

a

little

heap, 20 inches in diameter

and

15

inches

high.

At

the

other

end

close to

the

stem,

were found

some

greatly


31/146

Grave

Finds

25

decayed

fragments

of

horse's

bones,

as

well

as

some iron

buckles,

links,

and

fragments

of

harness.

To

north-west,

outside

the

boat, was

a

patch

about

15

inches in

diameter of flakes of

soft

decayed

animal

matter

en a

iloor

of

pebbles

intentionailly

arranged.

All the finds

were

on

the

original

surface.

In

every

respect

the grave

was

arranged

according

to

normal

Norwegian

customs

of

the unburnt

boat-buriais

(e.g.

Johs. Boe:

En

batgraiv

fra

Sogn.

Sma

meddelelser

fra

Bergensidiistriktet II, Berg.

Mus.

Arbok

1930).

Literature: P. M.

C.

Kermode.

Ship-burial

in the

Isle of

Man, The

Anti-

quaries

Journal,

X

(1930),

p.

126.

Ballachrink, Jurby, Isle

of

Man

(The

Mainix

Museiumi,

Douglas

Reg.

No.

3741_42).

a) The upper

part

of

the blade of an iron

sword,

with

a

cresoentic

(down-

ward

curving)

hilt

guard.

b)

Base

of a

socketed

irioin

spear-head

with wings

on

the

socket.

The

two

fragments

were found about 1880 in

a

now destroyed

barrow,

one of

a

pair

side

by

side on

the ridge

of

Ballachrink.

A note by the

late

Dr.

F.

S.

Tellet,

of

Ramsey, states that they were found »in

a

flagged

cist«

in the barrow, and

that

a

perforated

stone

disc

was

also

found

with

them.

Literature:

B.

R.

S.

Megaw,

Weapons

of

the Viking Age found

in

Man.

The Journal of

the Manx

Museum,

vol.

Ill

(1937),

p.

234.

Ballelby, Kirk

Patrick,

Isle

of

Man.

Oswald

noties (Manx Socilety,

vol. V,

pp.

77

—

78)

that ~^^Mr.

Evan

Gell, of

Ballelby, Dalby

informs

me that on

digging into

a

mound of

earth

on

his

farm, about eight

or

ten years

ago

(i.e. about

1850) a

complete

human

skeleton

with

a

halberd or

battle-axe

by

its

side, was

found

and

distinct

traces

of

its

haft

visible,

which he

forbore to disturb«.

Literature:

B. R.

S.

Megaw,

Weapons

of

the

Viking

Age found

in

Man,

The

Joumial

of

the

Manx Museum,

vol. Ill,

p.

235.

Malew

Parish Churchyard,

Isle

of

Man.

J.

G.

Cumming

notes

(A

Guide

to

the

Isle

of

Man

1861,

p.

87)

that a

short

time prior to that

date

(1854)

;

two

Soandiniavlan swords were

discovered

in

a

grave«

in

Malew

Churchyard.

Literature:

B.

R.

S.

Megaw,

The

Journal

of the

Manx Museum,

Vol.

IV,

p.

13.

St.

John's Kirk

German,

The

Isle

of

Man.

Oswald

notes

(Manx

Society,

Vol. V,

p.

198)

that

Mr.

Frank Metthews,

of

Glen

Moar,

opened

a cist on

the

Peel side

of

the

well-known

megalithic

cist


32/146

26

Grave

Finds

in

the

roiadside

at

Tynwald Hill. He states

that

the

cist was

much

smaller

than

the

megalithic

one, and that

it

contained

a

battle-axe,

a

stirrup

and

a

handful of beads

of

various colours, shapes and

sizes

.

The

find is lost.

It

appears

that

a

fraigmentary

Viking

sword

in

the

Manx

Museum

was

found in the same

field.

The

sword

has

a

slightly curved

guard, but in

the

present

state

of

preservation

tlie type is not

clear,

though probably

related

to Jan

Petersen

type P, with traces

of

silver

ornament on

pommel

and

guard.

Literature:

B.

R.

S.

Megaw,

Weapons

of

the Viking

Age found in

Man,

Journal of

the

Manx Museum, Vol. Ill,

p.

235.

Balladoyne

Churchyard, St.

John's,

Isle

of

Man

(The Manx

Museum,

Douglas).

a) Iron

sword

with

straight

guard and pommelbar of

similar

form,

all

without

ornament

as

far

ais

can

be

judged

in

its

present

condition.

Part

of

the

wooden

grip

remains.

The

sword

is

now

32 inches in

lenigth,

but

roughly

4

inches

of the

blaidie

are missing.

Jan

Petersen type

M.,

Wheeler type I.

b)

A

slender spear-head,

Jan

Petersen type

K,

very

rusty

and

broken

across

the socket:

20

—

25

inches

in

length. A

thin

iron

disc

is

attached

to

the

socket,

and inside the

socket are

fragments

of

some

fine-woven

linen fabric

which

has

been bound

twice

round the

point

of

the

wooden

spear-shaft.

Traces

of

a

coarser fabric adhere to the face of the blade

and

the

exterior

of the

socket.

c)

Shield

boss,

low and

bowl-shaped,

6 inches

in

diameter

across

the

flange.

The

objects

were

founid in

a

cemetery

comprising

some

32 Christian

burials,

all of them

lined

and roofed by

slate

flags

and

containing

extended

skeletons,

but no

other

relics.

The

iron

objects

were

found on

the

same

general

level as the slab-lined

graves,

but

with

no trace

of

slabs

or

coffin.

The

sword

and

the

shield-boiss

were

found within

two

or

three

feet of

the

spear-head,

but their

precise

relationship

cannot be

ascertained.

The

find

no

doubt

represents a

burial

in a

grave excavated

in

the

sand,

without

aide-

or oover^slabs. Posisibly

the

grave

was

originally pirovided

with

a

wooden

coffin,

as

was

often the

case

with

similar

graves

in

Norway.

Literature:

B. B.

B.

Megaw,

The

Journal

of the

Manx

Museum,

Vol. IV,

p.

12,

pi.

125.


33/146

II.

GOLD

AND

SILVER


34/146


35/146

GOLD AND

SILVER.

Soberton,

Hants

(British

Museum

51,

3

—

13).

a)

A

plaited gold

finger-ring,

ill.

Brit.

Mus.

Anglo-Saxon

Guide,

pi.

Ill,

5.

b)

A

plain gold finger-ring

ornamented

with

stamped

circles,

ill.

ibid,

pi.

Ill, 4.

The

two

rings

were found together in

association

with

coins

dating

from

the period

of

Edward

the

oonfessior

till

William,

and

thus

deposited

during

the latter

half

of

the

11th

cent.

Tlie first

ring

with double

twisting

is

typical

Scandinavian.

Hamsaij

churchyard,

Sussex

(British Museum).

A plaited gold

finger-ring,

like the

specimen from

Soberton.

Borner, near

Falmer, Sussex

(British

Museum).

A

plaited

gold

finger-ring, like

the

specimen

from

Soberton.

Literature:

The

Archaeological

Journal,

Vol.

XIX,

p.

28,

with

illustration.

Witley, Surrey.

Ring

of gold

formed

by

the

twisting

together

of

thick

and

thin

strands

of

gold. Weight 65

grains.

Literature:

Proc.

S.

A.

L.

Vol.

II,

p.

88 cf.

The Archaeiologioal

Journal.

Vol. VI,

p.

58.

Aldgate

Str.

opposite

Christ

Church,

Oxford

(British

Museum).

A

plaited gold finger-ring,

like the

specimen from

Sobsrton.

The ring

was found

as

a

labourer

working

in a

field

struck

a

lump

of

clay,

and upon

the lump

breaking

in

half the

ring

appeared.

There

was

nothing

except

the gold

riing

there,

and

no

other

object

of

antiquity

in

the

neighbourhoud.

Literature:

Proc.

S.

A.

L. Vol.

XIV,

p.

221.

Weston

Turville,

Bucks (British Museum).

A

plaited

gold

finger-ring.


36/146

30

G I d

a n

d S

i

I V e

r

Thaxted,

Essex

(British

Museum).

A

plain gold

finger-ring, resembling

the

second

from

Soberton.

Literature:

The

Archaeological

Journal,

Vol.

XI,

p.

57.

Harwich,

Essex

(British

Museum).

A gold finger-ring

plain and

thick,

with

ornamenit of stamped

lozenges.

West

BergJwlt,

Essex (British

Museum).

A plaited

gold

finger-ring.

Literature: Proc. S.

A.

L.

Vol.

II,

p.

247.

Wendover,

Essex

(British

Museum).

A

plaited

gold

bracelet,

formed by

twisting

together

thick

and

thin

strands

of

gold,

ill.

Brit.

Mus.

Anglo-Saxon Guide,

pi. Ill,

7.

Dinorben

quarry,

at

Red

Wharf

Bay,

Anglesey

(In

private

pO'Ssession).

Five penannular

silver

armlets.

Three

of

them bear

a

decoration

formed

by mietal

stamps,

two

or three stamps having been

used

in

each instance.

The

forth

shows

a

simple design produced

by

one serrated stamp,

while the

fifth

has merely

been

cross-stamped

with

a

chisel-shaped

tool.

The ends

of

the

first

three have been

blunted,

but

those of

the others

are

tapered.

The

armlets

were

found in

the

courise

of

operations

when

limestone

was

being

quarried

on

the

north ooaist

of

Anglesey

for

the

works of the Man-

chester Ship Carnal, towards

1900.

The

cliff

at

this spot is about 50 ft. high.

Authentic

details

of the

discovery are not available.

Literature:

The

Antiquaries

Journal,

Vol. VIII,

p.

359.

Chester (Chester

Museum).

A

plaited

gold

finger-ring,

like

the

specimen from Soberton.

Goldsborough

Church,

near

Knaresborough,

W. R. Yorkshire

(British

Museum).

Fig.

7.

a)

A

perfect

example of

the

»thistle«

brooch

of

silver

with

pin-head and

hoop-terminials

brambled.

b)

The

hoop of

a

penannular

brooch

of

silver

with

disc

terminals

and

animal

formis

on

the

edge.

c)

Fragment

of the terminial

from

a

penannular

brooch

of

silver

of

Viking

date.

d)

A

number

of pieces

of scrap-silver, including

fragments of brooches,

bracelets,

ingots etc.


37/146

Gold

and

Silver

31

Fig.

7.

Silver brooches

and

fragments from hoard,

Goldsborough,

Yorlishire.

The

deposit

is dated

about

925

by

Cufic

coinis

struck

at

Samarkand

and

Tashkent

by

the

first

four princes

of the

Samanid dynasty,

half

an

offering-

penny«

of King

Alfred

aind

a

coin

of his

son

Edward.

Literature:

Brit.

Mus. Anglo-Saxon

Guide

p.

108,

fig.

133.

V. C.

H.

Yorks.

II,

pi.

I.

Hungate, York

(The

Yorkshire Museum).

A plaited gold finger-ring.

York (The

Yorkshire

Museum).

Broad

silver

armlet

with

convex

front and hallow back,

the

tapering

ends

united

in

a

knot.

The

omiament

of the front consists of

a

moulded

string

of

beads

alomg the middle

and,

on

each

side,

a

double

row

of

impressions

made

by

a

special

punch. Fig.

8.

Beeston

Tor

cave,

Staffordshire

(British

Museum).

Two

late Saxon

nielloed

disc-brooches.


38/146

32

Gold and Silver

A

few

pieces of

gold.

About

50

silver

coins.

The

deposit

dates about

871

—

74.

Literature:

Kendrick,

Viking Period Antiquities

in

England.

Transactions

of the

South-Eastern Union

of

Scientific Societies,

1933,

p.

47.

Cuerdale, near

Preston,

Lancashire (British

Museum).

Hoard

of

nearly

1000 oz.

of

sihier lamid

about lOCCO

silver coins.

Fig.

9

—

12.

a)

The silver

ingots

of

which

ten specimens

are illustrated by

Haic-

kins,

are

of

very

different

forimis ainid

diimiensiioras. Sotnie

are oblong, about

3I4

inches

long,

IVs

wide,

and

%

thick, they

have

been

cast

in

a

mould,

prob-

ably

of

metal,

but perhaps

of

baked

clay,

as

traces

of

cracks

appear on

the

under-side

of siome

of

them,

which provies

also that sieveral

ingots

have

been

cast

in

the

same

mould;

the

surface of

others

shows

that

some

of

the

moulds

were

marked

with

a

cross.

These

ingots are not

adjusted to

any particular

weight,

those cast

eveni in

the

same mould

varying much

in

weight,

some

weighing

between 3900

and

4000

grains.

For

the

ingots

of

smaller

size also

metal

moulds seem

to

have been

used,

but

by

far

the

greater number

of

these

have been cast

in

rude hallows

formed

in sand

by the finger,

or

perhaps

a

stick;

these vary

in

weight

from upwards

of 2000 grains

to

less than

100,

and in

size

from

4^2

inches long

to

1

2

inch. There are

also mere

humps

of

silver dropped

upon a

flat

surface,

and

weighing

from

about 12

to 70

grains.

In

many

instances

these ingots and

drops

have been hammered

on

two

sides,

some

times

on

four.

The

ingots

have

frequently

been

cut

into pieces

of

various dimensions

and

weights.

b) Small

silver armlet

probably

not quite

finished, having been

merely

hammered

into

form, the

edges

and sides still

rough

and

sharp,

and

retaining

traces

of the hammer,

it

is

also

entirely without ornament.

It

is

perfectly

flat,

broad

in

the

middle,

becoming

gradually

narrower

towards the

extre-

mities,

where it terminates

in

blunt roimd ends.

c)

32 fragments

of

similar

flat

silver

armlets.

The

armlets

of

this de-

scription vary

in

breadth

at

the middle

from

^4

of

an

inch

to

IM

and

perhaps

more;

it

is

probable that they did

not

quite encircle the

arm,

the

ends

being, when

wo'mi,

at

some

distance from each

other.

But

sometimes

the

ends

were

elongated, and

rounded

into the form of

a

thick

wire, and

twisted

together

into various forms. These

armlets

are generally

ornamented,

and

it miay

be

observed

that allmost all the

ornamients, upion

the

various

articles discovered

in this find,

are

produced

by punching

with

tools

of

various

forms.

The patterns

are

numerous,

but the

forms

of

the

punches

are

very

few,

the variations being

prc-duced

by combining

the

forms

of more

punches

than one, or by placing the

same oir

differently

formed

punches at


39/146

G

ol

d

and

S

i I

V

e

r

33

Fig.

8.

Silver armlet,

found in

York.

a

greater

or less distance from each

other,

or

by

varying their

directions.

Tlie

foillowinig fragments

are discribed by

Hawkins:

c.

1)

The

ornament

consists

of

straight

lines,

made

by

a

punch

resiemblimg

a

very

blunt

chisel. The

centre

part

of

the

armlet

is

a

square

blank

filled

with

diagonal

lines

placed crosswise,

the

rest

of

the

surface

bearing

a

dense

series

of lines

which

pass

directly across

the

piece.

c.

2)

The

decoration

is of

the

same

paittem

as

on

the

first fragment,

con-

sisting

of straight

lines with holes intersperred, struck

by

a

round-poin-

ted punch.

c.

3)

The

desigrt

oonisists

of

diouble

lines

along the

edges

of

the

piece,

and

a

zigzag

pattern of

double

lines filling

the

space

between

them. The chisel-

shaped

punch which

has

been used,

has had

one side of

the

edge

cremated,

the

other

smooth.

c.

4)

The punch

used

on

this

piece

has had

a

triangular

point;

and,

trianigles

conjoined

at

their

bases

having

been'

struck side

by side,

parallel

rows of sunk

lozenges have been

produced.

c.

5)

The ornament

has been made by

a

similarly

shaped

punch,

but

the

parallel

rows

of triangles are not placed base to base so

as

to

form

lozenges,

being

separated

by

a

narrow

strip

of

metal;

the

opposed

angles

of

these

sunk

triangles

form parallel raised

zigzags

alternating

with

the

narrow lines.

c.

6)

This fragment

has

been decorated

in

a

mianner similar

to the

pre-

ceding,

but

by

a

slight

change

in the

position

of

the

punch

marks,

a

series

of

lozenges

or

a

zigzag

line

is

produced

in

the

ornament,

and

the straight

line

between

the

patterns has been separated into

two by

the

blow

of

a

chisel-

shaped

punch.

c.

7, 8)

Two

fragments,

both decorated by

a

punch curved like

a

gouge.

c.

9)

Complete

armlet,

broad

and

flat,

having

the

ends

rounded

like a

3

—

Viking

Antiquities

IV.


40/146

34

Gold and Silver

thick wire

and twisted

togetlier

into

a

double knot.

The

punch has had

a

small

square

end,

and

the

orniament

is

formed by

a

series

of

blows

in

trans-

verse or

oblique

lines.

c.

10)

Armlet

formed

of a

narrow

ribbon, closed

by

a

double knot

and

ornamented by

annular

punches, the circles being dispersed without

much

regard

to

order.

c.

11)

Small

fragment

of

ain armlet

decorated

by

a

similar punch,

but

of

smaller

size.

The circles have

been

so disposed

as

to

produce

a

somewhat

regularly

arranged pattern,

consisting

of

a

series

of

lozenges

with groups

of

four

circles in

the

centre

of

each.

c.

12)

Small

fragment of an armlet

ornamented

by annular and

heart-

shaped

punches.

c.

13)

Small

fragment.

The

punch

is only

heart-shaped.

c.

14)

Small

fragment.

The

pattern

is

rather

confused,

but

it

seems

to

have

been

formed

by

a

punch

having

a

smiall

hole

in

the

centre

of

a

rather

broad

angular

area, the

blows

having been struck

so near

together

that

the

pattern forms parallel sunk

lines,

with irregular indented

edges,

and a

row

of raised circular spots along the

middle.

c.

15)

Fragment. The punch

has

had four holes, which

gives

the

pattern

the

appearance

of

a

series

of

ovals,

with

four

raised

points in

the

centre

of

each.

c.

16)

Small fragment.

The

punch

is

eggshaped,

with

a

dot

in the

centre;

four

of

these

have

been

struck close together,

so ais to

form

a

kind of

quatrefoil

pattern

inclosing

four

dots.

c.

17)

Small fragment

bearing

a

pattern

formed

by the

use

of

three

punches,

one

like

a

blunt

chisel,

one small triangular, and

one

triangular

inclosing

three circular holes;

these

larger

triangles are

placed

point

to

point

so

as to

leave between them plain

lozenge-shaped spaces.

c.

18)

Small fraigment. The

only punch used

is

triangular,

with

one

hole

in

the

centre.

c.

19)

Small

fragment.

The

punch

is

lozengenshaped,

witli one

large hole

in

the

centre.

c.

20)

Fragment

comprising

the

one

half of

an

armlet

with

blimt

rounded

end,

ornamented

with

two

double

series

of

sunk

triangles separated by a

dotted

line.

Tlie

pattern

is

formed by

a

triiainigular punch

including

three

holes, and

the

central

line

by

repeated

blows

from

a

small

square punch.

c.

21)

Small

fragment, the

ornament

produced by

a

punch of an

irregular

crescent

form; the

impriessioms

have

been

joined at

the

ends,

producing

rudely

waved

lines, not very

graceful.

c.

22)

Fragment

oompriising

nearly the one half of

an armlet with

tapering,

pointed

ends. Along

the

centre

rums

a

line oompoised

of

triangles, inclosing


41/146

Gold

and

Silver 35

Fig.

9.

Selection

from

silver

hoard,

Cuerdale,

Lancashire.


42/146

36

Gold

and

Silver

three

pioinls,

arranigied

in pains,

laipex

to-

apex,

so ais

to

form

a

series of hour-

glaiSiS-S'liaped forms. Along the

edge

runs

a

line of

small

circles.

The

narrow

end is

ornamented

by

a

row

of

lozenges formed by the

spaces left

between

the

pointed

ends

of

the

triangular punches.

c.

23)

Small

fragment

of an

armlet

decorated

by

an

irregularly

quatrefoil

punch,

with

a

hole in

the centre.

c.

24)

Fragment of

armlet.

The pattern

is

partly formed

by

triangnlar

punches

inclosing three points,

and

by lines of net-work, the meshes

of

which

are

lozenge-shaped,

formed

by

well-arranged impressiions

of

small

plain triangular

punches.

c.

25)

Fragmient

of

armlet.

The

pattern

is

formed by

a

double row

of

impresisions

by

a

punch

of irregular shape,

inclosing

one hole

at

the

rounded

end, the other

end

of

the

form being

shaped

like

a

crescent.

c.

26)

Fragment

comprising

the

tapering

end

of

an

armlet,

terminating

in

a

small

hook.

The pattern

is

formed by

a

double

row of

conical

punches,

the

apices

placed inwards, so

as to

leave

a

raised

zigzag

ribbon between

the

impressions.

c.

27)

Small fragment.

The

pattern is

formed

by

two rows

of

impressions

by

a

punch,

in

the

shape

of

a

lozenge

combined

with

a

circle,

and

placed at a

distance one row

below

the

other.

c.

28)

Fragment

of

armlet.

The

pattern

is

formed by

a

pmich of similar

shape

to

the

preceding, placed

so

as to

produce

a

raised

zigzag

ornament, at

each

point

of which

is

an

anulet. A simall border runis

along

the edige of

the

armlet,

formed by

a

series

of

contiguoiis

blows

from

a

blunt-pointed

punch.

c.

29)

Small

fragment, presenting

a

rather

complicated

pattern,

formed

by

small

square,

triangular, and

circular

punches,

combined

to

build

a

zigzag

ornament

resembling

that

noticed

in the

preceding.

c.

30)

Small

fragment

of

a

narrow armlet, stamped with

a

small

sharpish

chisel, with

an

ornament

called the

pseudo-meander.

c.

31)

Fragment

of

armlet.

The

pattern

is

formed

by two

punches, a

circular

and

a

semicircular one,

so

arranged

as to

form

something like a

flower.

c.

32) Flat

fragment,

possibly not

of

an

armlet,

decorated

by

small

blunt

chiselshaped punches,

so

arranged

as to have somewhat the

appearance

of foliage,

dlisposeid cross-wise,

land

formiiinig

a

lozenge-shaped

pattern.

d)

Tliree

fragments

of

silver-armlets,

ribbon-shaped,

but

hammered

much thinner

than the preceding type,

and

miade

concave

towards

the

arm,

convex

of course

to

the

outside;

the

erndB

Shetelig, Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland

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