IRON IN NORTHERN EUROPE. 



11 



entirely removed. It may naturally be asked why then this 

 should be quoted as an instance of the Iron Age ? And the 

 Fia. l. FIG. 2. FIG. 3. 



X 



\ 



M 



answer seems quite satisfactory. All the swords, lance- 

 heads and axe-blades have disappeared, while the handles 

 of bronze or wood are perfectly preserved, and as the orna- 

 ments and other objects of bronze are well preserved, it is 

 evident that the swords, etc., were not of that metal ; and it 

 is therefore reasonable to conclude that they were of iron., 

 more especially as the whole character of the objects resem- 

 bles that of those found at Nydam, and the coins, which are 

 about as numerous as those from the latter place, range from 

 60 A.D. to A.D. 197; so that these two great "finds" may be 

 regarded as almost contemporaneous. 



Not only are the weapons in these finds all of iron, but 

 their forms and the character of the ornamentation are very 



