Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/146

104 NOTICES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS. plate have been found ; and it will be interesting to the reader to compare this example with that found near Harlech, and exhibited by Mr. Wynne at a recent meeting of the Institute. (See page 77 of this Journal.) A specimen, more closely similar and very probably of Danish origin, was found in the Cambridgeshire fens, near Ely, and is now preserved, with a second, of more simple fashion, in the museum of the Cambridge Anti- quarian Society.' Many other points of analogy, as also of distinct character, when com- pared with our own antiquities of the same period, might be pointed out. We are not aware that any example of the bronze battle-axe, of which also a representation is here given (see Woodcuts), has been ever found in these Islands. It measures IG in. in width, and the breadth of the edge is 10 in. This remarkable weapon was for parade rather than warlike use, being cast hollow, upon a nucleus of clay, extending to the edge. It is doubtless the prototype of the favourite weapon, the hache Danoise, so often mentioned by the early chroniclers and other writers. The familiar appellation, " Danish axe," seems to have been customarily adopted for weapons of this nature. We have here the " ring ornament," but the spiral and double spiral (found also on English antiquities) are considered the more ancient, whilst the " wave ornament " seems to characterise the transition to tlie third, or " Iron-period." In this age, a complete change in form and orna- ment is perceptible : it is regarded by Mr. Worsaae as coeval with the close of Paganism, about the tenth century. Ornaments of elaborate workmanship in the precious metals occur frequently : the interlaced type of decoration prevailed, as shown in the beautiful sword here represented : the blade is of iron, the cross-guards of metal. In examining these beautiful works, the conviction seems irresistible, that the hero interred under the tumuluo at Caenby, with ornaments of such delicate inter- lacement as described by Mr. Jarvis, in a previous part of this Journal, must have been a Viking, or pirate, so called from the I7/i-s (wicks, or inlets), where their galleys were harboured. To this period arc to be assigned the tortoise-like fibulae, of which two splendid examples from Yorkshire and Lancashire have been given in the Journal ; * the armlets and collars, with punched ornament, such as were found with the Cuerdale hoard, and many i-elics found in various parts of England, evincing more or less of assimilation to Danish types. But we must take leave of this highly interesting and important work ; the portion treating in detail of the stone monuments, — the modes of inter- ment, Pamic inscriptions, and especially the General Observations on the value of all these ancient remains, as sufficing to convey a clear idea of the character of races, the degree of their civilisation, their warfare, commerce, and manufactures. We hope that the example of Denmark may excite, in our own country, a more lively interest in national remains, and that Mr, ' They havf been described by Mr. Goodwin, and figured in the Transactions of the Society, Vol. ii. 2 Archaeological Journal, Vol. v. p. 220; vi. p. 74.