342 THE BRACTEATES. 



they spring, just as to-day the Christian cross is the emblem 

 of numerous nations or tribes scattered over the globe. 



Fig. 1311. Fibula of silver, plated with gold, in shape Fig. 1312. Fibula of gold 

 of svastica. | real size. Woman's skeleton grave, f real size. Skeleton 



Fyen. grave, Fyeu. 



The cross with four arms of equal length seems to be one of 

 if not the most ancient of symbolic signs ; it is seen on the 

 rock-tracings of Bohuslan (of which several illustrations are 



Fig 1313. -Fibula, real size; appears to have been gilt. Norway. 



given in this work), sometimes surrounded by a ring, at others 

 a double cross is represented by itself. Such tracings cannot 

 be taken for wheels or shields. 



