Page:Archaeologia volume 38 part 1.djvu/112

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96 Further Researches in a to nearly all the skulls from this last exploration. All the skulls have more or less projecting upper jaws (prognathic), and the teeth are worn flat Amber. In the form of round, flattened masses, each with a hole in the centre. The amber is not of the finest kind, but has a distinct vitreous fracture ; it more nearly resembles the resin known as copal than true amber. In fact, many of the specimens now found and sold as amber are not really the product of the pinus succinifer. They may be readily known from true amber by their darker colour, their vitreous fracture, and their tendency to split up into very minute fragments. As far as I am aware, no amber of this kind has ever been found indigenous to this country, the nearest approach to it being the Copaline or Highgate resin, which is of a dull yellow colour. It would therefore appear that the amber in question, like most of that now in use, was probably obtained from the shores of the Baltic. Wood, forming part of a bucket, from Grave 31. This fragment was very readily split up into fibres, and the fibres exhibited the bordered pores and spirals characteristic of yew. Wood, forming part of the sheath of a sword, from Grave 31. This readily split up into fibres, all of which were largely impregnated with ferruginous matter; the most minute markings, both of the wood and of the vessels, are preserved, and, on comparison with specimens of recent wood, the markings on the vessels clearly show that the wood was not coniferous, but nearly allied if not iden- tical with the ash. Fragments of clot/t adhering to Dagger, Grave 22. This is a piece of coarse linen, which, from contact with bronze, is stained of a bright green colour. The texture of the cloth is well seen on one side. Jrtiry, Grave 22. These are fragments of a transverse section of the tusk of an elephant, and exhibit the dentinal tubuli quite as clearly as any sections taken from a recent tusk, although slightly stained with some ferruginous matter on the exterior. JOHN QUEKETT. Koval Coll. Surgeons, 24 Nov. 1*58. Plate II. Fig. 1. The sword from grave 31. One fourth of the actual size. Fig 2. Portion of the bronze pommel of the same. Actual size. The construc- tion may be seen in the examples of swords engraved in " Remains of Pagan Saxondom," plate xxiv. Fig. 3. Stamped and engraved ornament at the guard, apparently of base silver. Figs. 4, 5. Two of four bronze studs found near the guard. Fig. 6. A small cross patde, of base silver, found with figs. 4, 5. Fig. 7. The chape of the same sword. Fig. 8. Sword found in grave 44.