12 IRON IN NORTHERN EUROPE. 



different from those of the Bronze Age ; resembling in some 

 respects Roman arms, in others they are quite peculiar, and 

 evidently representative of northern art. 



Many of the arrows had owner's marks on them (figs. 1 

 and 3) resembling those on the modern Esquimaux arrows 

 (fig. 2). The Nydam swords also bear seven inscriptions ; 

 three of them are illegible, the others are "ricus, riccim, 

 cocillus, and umored." On the umbo of one of the shields is 

 inscribed, in dotted Eoman letters, AEL. AELIANUS ; while 

 another one has a short Runic* inscription, which Mr. Haigh 

 reads as Aisc Ah (Aisc owns) ;( two figures resembling Runic 

 letters are also inlaid with golden wire on one of the sword 

 blades. One of the Thorsbjerg scabbards also has a Runic 

 inscription of two lines, each containing ten letters. 



I particularly dwell on these cases, because no inscriptions 

 or coins have yet been found which can be referred to the 

 Bronze Age. 



For the same reason the abundance of silver is very signifi- 

 cant; out of two hundred buckles and square silver girdle orna- 

 ments, the greater number are of bronze plated with silver, and 

 silver was also used to ornament shield rims, sandals, brooches, 

 breast-plates, sword-hilts, sword-sheaths, girdles, harness, etc., 

 as well as for clasps, pendants, boxes, and tweezers, while one 

 helmet was formed entirely of this comparatively rare metal. 



The ornamentation also of the shields, etc., is of a character 

 altogether unlike any that occurs in the Bronze Age. 



An assemblage of objects very similar to those of Nydam 

 and Thorsbjerg has also been found in the "Virnose," or 

 " Moss of the Temple." It comprises no less than 1500 

 lance-heads, 40 axes, and 30 swords, all of iron ; abundance 

 of silver ; one Roman and three Runic inscriptions ; and a 

 coin of Faustina Junior. Here, again, bronze weapons are 

 entirely absent, though bronze was used for ornaments, etc. 



* See Appendix No. 1. t Archaeological Journal, 1863. 



