THEIR ANTIQUITY. 325 



cannot be other than one to which, in our museums, 

 it would not be difficult to find a counterpart. Here 

 it undoubtedly signifies a decoration of great value 

 (a Dyrgrip, as it was called) carried away as spoil from 

 the battle. To judge by the axes, the combatants are 

 Northmen and ' Vikingar,' who have left their ships to 

 settle the quarrel on shore. The two fleets are lying on 

 each side of the combatants, but with their prows pointed 

 in opposite directions. Two of the vessels belonging to 

 that on the left have upright lines curved at the top, 

 which possibly, though not probably, signify masts. The 

 figure between the birds and the champions is not com- 

 pi-ehensible ; perhaps it means a tree." 



Similar " Ilallristuingar " to those in question are 

 found, though sparingly, elsewhere in Scandinavia, as 

 also in other countries ; but are nowhere so numerous as 

 in Bohus-Liin, where between three and four hundred 

 have been already discovered, and many of which have 

 been depicted by M. Holmberg. " The whole of them," he 

 observes, " bear a striking resemblance to each other; and 

 were it not for their number, and the distance between 

 them, one might readily believe they were all executed by 

 one and the same artist." 



With the learned in Scandinavia it is a somewhat 

 debateable point as to the period when the " Hallristnin- 

 gar" were executed; but M. Holmberg perhaps the 

 best authority on the subject is clearly of opinion that 

 it was during Heathen times, because neither Christian 

 symbols, such as the Cross, nor trace of Runes, are to 

 be found amongst them. He further believes that they 

 date from between the seventh and tenth century; cer- 

 tainly not prior to the former period, as it was then that 

 the marauding expeditions of the Sea-Kings, which form 

 their chief subject, became a national pursuit ; and that 

 these extraordinary people became acquainted with the 



