250
REMARKABLE DISCOVERY OF SILVER ORNAMENTS
tion of Mr. Buist, of Cupar, who had been engaged in investigating the sculptured monuments, or cross-stones, of Scotland, was directed to the subject, and a Memoir was compiled by him, with the purpose of making so curious a discovery known to antiquarians, and eliciting further information. We are indebted to his Report, of which a copy has been obligingly supplied by Mr. Dundas, for the following interesting particulars:—
"The fragments of the Norrie's Law Armour, now in the possession of General Durham, consist of two circles or armlets, rather rudely formed, and in indifferent preservation—of two bodkins of the most exquisite workmanship—of two lozenge-shaped plates, marked with the symbols of the cross-stones—a beautiful finger-ring, in the form of a coiled serpent—a small sword hook—the mouth- piece and tip of a very large sword-scabbard—an ornamented circular plate—and various other lesser fragments, whose uses have not been precisely determined. They contain twenty-four ounces troy of fine silver. They appear to have been found about the year 1819, in or near a stone coffin in an artificial heap or tumulus of sand or gravel, called Norrie's Law, on the boundaries betwixt the estates of Teasses and Largo. They formed part of a rich coat of scale armour, the pieces of which consisted of small-sized lozenge-shaped plates of silver, suspended loosely by a hook from the upper corner. The helmet and shield and sword-hilt were, when found, quite entire, as were some portions of the sword-sheath. This seems to have been a large cross-hilted weapon, such as were commonly used with both hands. No parts or relics of the blade were discernible. No bones, ashes, or human remains, appear to have been found near. The pieces of armour were withdrawn, piecemeal, and sold by a hawker for what they would bring, and to whomsoever chose to purchase them. The uses of the plates are unknown, as also the meanings of the symbols so emphatically engraved on them. The circles resemble certain mysterious gold ornaments found in many parts of Ireland, and which have so entirely perplexed the most minutely profound Irish antiquarians.[1] It cannot, however, be pronounced that the similitude amounts to any distinct measure of identification, though it is not to be overlooked, when we keep in view that the symbols of the plates are identical with those of the stone crosses, that these, again, are peculiar to Ireland and Scotland, in both of which countries they abound.—A considerable number of coins, now wholly lost sight of, and said to have borne these symbolic markings, were found along with the armour of Norrie's Law, and about forty of the same kind were found in an earthern pot at Pittenweem, in 1822. It is said that these were destitute of inscription or written character. A considerable part of the armour was partially corroded, the alloy having been eaten away as if by some weak acid, exactly after the manner of that employed in certain operations of modern silversmiths. The bullion in this case was much more pure than in those cases where it remained solid and untouched. It was, in fact, reduced to the state of porous, brittle, spongy silver. The parts affected in this way were those lowest down, which seemed to have suffered from very long exposure to some subtle corrosive. The
- ↑ We are not aware that the peculiar Z-shaped ornament has been noticed on any ornament or sculpture found in Ireland. The gold ornaments to which Mr. Buist alludes, are possibly the crescent-shaped plates often found in Ireland, which bear resemblance to certain symbols sometimes found in connection with the Z-shaped symbols upon cross-stones in Scotland, as at Glamis and Crosstown, Forfarshire; Elgin, Muir of Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, &c. Circular gold plates have also been found in Ireland, bearing the symbol of the cross, such as are represented in Camden's Britannia, edit, by Bp. Gibson, in the Account of Co. Donegal; in Ware's Antiqu. of Ireland, vol. ii., p. 126; and Dublin Penny Journal, vol. i., p. 244. These, however, do not appear analogous to the "circles" in question—A. W.
