OBJECTS IXTKXTIOXALLY DAM At: III > IX BIG FIXDS. 195 



Here also, as in the graves where the bodies were burnt, \ve 

 find objects intentionally damaged. This bending, twistinir. 

 and hacking of weapons seems to have been a religious custom. 

 The spear-handles, scabbards, bows, arrow-shafts, and shield^ 

 are often broken into fragments, or rolled together in inex- 

 tricable knots. Ringed coats of mail and garments are torn 

 to pieces, which afterwards -were wrapped carefully together; 



Fig. 341. Fragments of silver shield 

 boss, with gilt ornameiits. Thors- 

 bjero; find. 



Fig. 342. Silver helmet. Thorsbjerg find. 



Fig. 343. Bronze serpent : probably 

 ornament to helmet. Thorsbjerg find. 



and the skulls and skeletons of horses are cleft in many 

 places. 



These masses of objects seem to imply that they were either 

 the spoils and remains of great fights between different chief- 

 tains, or offers to the gods thrown into sacred springs. In 

 this latter case the finds must be the produce of a long series 

 of years, and have been given to the gods at different times, 



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