18 TH. PETERSEN. [1907 



that the type chronologically embraces rather a long space of time. 

 The older forms, a specimen of which found at Stor-Skomo is 

 figured Ab. 1905, p. 368 (reproduced by G. Gustafson in "Norges 

 Oldtid" fig. 391), seem to appear already in the period before the 

 Viking age ; they are successively increasing in size, till they become 

 at last so large that they must have been quite unpractical in use. At 

 this stage of development they disappear in Norvvay rather suddenly, 

 leaving no tracss. Judging from the st3de of decoration and the 

 faet that, with only one exception^), they are not found together 

 with bowl-formed brooches younger than R. 647 '2) and 648, the 

 disappearance must have taken piace in the course of the first 

 half of the 9th centur}', probably as early as the beginning of the 

 Century. With regard to the Melhus- brooch figured here in a 

 somewhat reduced size it will easiiy be seen that we have to do 

 with a specimen in the last stage of development. The fibula has 

 reached a maximum size (the longest specimen hitherto found, as 

 far as I know of), vvhile of the birds'-heads, rudimentary remains 

 of which are still seen at the foot of the Vikestad-brooch R. 638, 

 there are no traces here. The size and exterior form seem thus 

 to refer the brooch to the time about A. D 800. The stj'le of 

 the decoration indicates, however, that the making of the brooch 

 may be dated rather before than after this point of time, the zoo- 

 morphic designs showing the characteristics of the style prevailing 

 during the latter half of the 8th century.^) It is also a significant 



Melhusbrooch has the characteristics of the so-called mainland type em- 

 bracing neariy all the Norwegian specimens, as far as they can be deter- 

 mined. Of the Gothlandic type with the end of the bow terminating in a 

 single round disc there is only one specimen preserved in the Museum at 

 Trondhjem, a small brooch from Stangerhoit, Ytterøen, found together with 

 the bronze mounting reproduced by Dr. Salin 1. c. fig. 582. This brooch 

 represents an early stage of development and is the only one of this type 

 hitherto found in Norvvay. 



^) Fragment of a large specimen from F o n n a a s, Rendalen, found together 

 with two bowl-formed brooches of the t_vpe R. 656. .^.b. 1877, p. 14, No. 77. 



-) The type specimen R. 6:^9 from Orre, Klep, greatly resembling the Melhus- 

 brooch, was found together with two brooches = R. 647. 



3) Dr. S a 1 i n's Teutonic style III, according to the researches of this author 

 prevailing during the 8th century and extending into the 9th. The deco- 



