Page:VCH Essex 1.djvu/387

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ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS they are found so richly ornamented, but there are a few notable examples in this country : one from Tuddenham, Suffolk, now in the Cambridge Archaeological Museum ; and another from Sarre, Kent, a full-size drawing of which is published in Arcbeeologia Cantiana, vii. 311. These buttons or caps would be naturally more common in bronze, and one has been found in position on the pommel of a sword at Longbridge, Warwick, 1 while specimens have also been found in the Burgundian graves of Charnay and figured in M. Baudot's sumptuous volume. 2 One found at Oberolm in Rhenish Hesse has been described 3 as a stud for leather. Yet another, of silvered bronze inlaid with stones, was found at Beckum, some miles south-east of Miinster, Westphalia; and though it is described* as the bezel of a finger-ring, the presence of a single and double-edged sword in the grave supports the above view. In either case it would be natural to find it near the hand. The most complete parallel is however afforded by a discovery in Wiltshire. On the Salisbury race-course, about three miles south-west of the city, a small grave-mound adjoining the Roman road to Dor- chester was opened by Sir Richard Colt Hoare, who published a descrip- tion of the find in 1821.' Previous to the construction of the mound, an oblong pit had been cut in the soil to the depth of 3! feet, and on its level floor were found an iron sword 29 inches long of the usual description, three iron spearheads, two knife-blades, a shield-boss and discs probably attached to the shield, a buckle with traces of leather, and other small buckles of iron. The chief interest however lies in the further discovery of two glass tumblers, and a thin bronze vessel with marks of gilding, 6| inches in diameter and about i inches deep. This object resembles a modern frying-pan, but was found fastened to a bowl of oak, and so cannot have been used for culinary purposes. Close to this and the shield-boss already mentioned were four or five rings of silver wire (rather large for the finger), one of gold, and two bronze ornaments of pyramidal form, almost identical with the Broomfield and other specimens found in this country, ornamented with garnets set in white enamel ; but though their use is as yet doubtful, there is little warrant for classing them as parts of bracelets. A detail that renders the similarity between the two discoveries still more striking is that at Salis- bury as in Essex, not the slightest marks of any human interment could be traced, though the earth was thoroughly examined. The second object (fig. 14) was also of gold, the front being entirely covered with slices of garnet and blue glass set in gold cells very delicately and skilfully made. It seems to have been found in company with the pommel already noticed, and in all probability formed part of the decoration of the sword-handle. In the absence of anything 1 Journal of Brltith Arch<eohgical Aiioctation, xxxii. 108.

  • S/pulturei mtrwinpennes de Charnay, pi. x. fig. zi, and pi. xi. fig. 32.
  • Lindenschmit, Handbucb der deutschen Alterthumskundt, p. 380.
  • Zeitscbrift JUr vaterlUnditthe Geicbickte tmd Alttrtbumskunde (MUnster, 1865), ser. 3, vol. v. pi. v.

551. p. 358. 6 Ancient Wiltihire (Roman JE,n), pp. 26, 27 ; all but the iron objects are figured on pis. xxxvi., xxxvii. I 321 4*