EARLY MAN 



Celtic curves introduced into its ornamental circular discs, and also on account 

 of the general form of the vessel/ which reminds one very forcibly of the 

 Aylesford example. 



The Elveden sepulchral deposit also contained three earthenware vessels 

 of excellent quality and belonging unquestionably to the same class of ware 

 as that found at Aylesford, which, as Dr. Arthur Evans has demonstrated, is 

 a fashion introduced from the region about the northern end of the Adriatic 

 Sea. One of these was a reddish colour, and, though more globular in form, 

 resembled the most delicately finished of the Aylesford vases in the double 

 row of undulating striae that ornamented its body. Calcined bones found 

 amongst the earth in which these relics lay evidently formed part of the 

 funeral deposit placed here, as at Aylesford, some little depth below the surface 

 of the ground. 



A bronze brooch of great beauty, of the type known as S-shaped, was 

 discovered at Lakenheath, Suffolk, some years ago, and is now in the 

 possession of Mr. S. G. Fenton.' The late Mr. J. Romilly Allen, who 

 published an account of this brooch in The Reliquary of January 1907, 

 points out that the form of this class of brooch seems to have been suggested 

 by a dolphin, a sea-horse, or some kind of nondescript dragonesque creature, 

 and although the shape has been modified by successive copying and making 

 the two ends symmetrical, the eye, which is the most prominent feature, has 

 survived in nearly all cases. 



The Lakenheath brooch was found on a skeleton, so there can be no 

 doubt that it was buried as part of the personal ornaments of the dead. The 

 bronze is well preserved, and the kind of ornamental forms introduced into 

 the brooch can be seen precisely. The main outlines are in the form of 

 broad, sweeping curves. At the terminations are curved trumpet-like 

 expansions. In the open part of what may be called the thick part of 

 the letter S is a circular-pierced ornament ingeniously produced by a 

 combination of two trumpet-shaped pieces. The pin by which the brooch 

 was attached to the garment still remains in a practically perfect state of 

 preservation. 



The accompanying photograph shows the scheme of the ornament, 

 which, it will be seen, is purely Late Celtic in character. The vigour of 

 the whole design affords sufficient proof that we have here a charming piece 

 of British jewellery in which 

 no trace of Roman influence is 

 to be found. 



In later forms of S-shaped 

 brooches the ornament is more B^„^^^ FiNCER-Rmc 



generally carried out in enamels found near Mil- 



of red, yellow, blue, &c., rather denhall (enlarged) 



than by beauty of form, as in 



the Lakenheath example. Some ' ' 



beautiful examples were found Diagram of Bronze Ring Extended (fuU size) 



• For these reasons it has been repeatedly figured as a pure type of Late Celtic art before there was any 

 admixture of Roman influence. 



' The writer is indebted to Mr. Fenton for permission to examine this brooch, and take the accompanying 

 photograph. 



271 



