Page:VCH Suffolk 1.djvu/391

ROMANO-BRITISH SUFFOLK Two small fragments of coloured glass were included : one with blue veins and white cross- lines on a green ground probably formed part of a finger-ring ; and the other, of bluish green colour, rio doubt belonged to a bracelet. Examples of similarly coloured glass in these forms were found in the Celtic stronghold of Stradonitz,'" Bohemia, which was destroyed about lO B.C. It remains to mention several iron tools which were probably used by the artisan who collected the scrap-metal for recasting. Rust has damaged these specimens, but two large pairs of tongs or pincers survive, with a perforated pick-head, two tapering ferrules, and a broad-bladed knife of the same metal. The iron sockets, which may have belonged to spear-butts, resemble some recently found in Harborough Cave, Derbyshire, in association with remains of the same date as the Santon Downham hoard, but in the latter hoard there were no spear or lance-heads to support the hypothesis. As part of the working outfit may also be mentioned a lump of beeswax and a piece of thin leather very well preserved. One or two objects may have been lost after the discovery of the hoard, but there is reason to believe that the majority were recovered, in their present condition ; and the importance of the series for purposes of chronology will be readily conceded. The brooches cannot well be earlier than the Claudian conquest, and native art as represented in metal and enamelling was at that time evidently in a flourishing condition. Further discoveries of the kind may some day show how long the British craftsman withstood the pressure of Roman civilization. " Illustrated in colours by Pii, Le Hradischt tie SlraJomtz (trans. D6chelette), plates 5-7. 323