EARLY MAN 

 The Prehistoric Iron Age 



The data for the construction of the story of the county of Durham 

 during this interesting period is extremely limited. There is, in fact, only 

 one discovery made in the county which can with 

 certainty be referred to that time. This is an iron 

 sword in its bronze scabbard which was found by some 

 masons engaged in repairing a bridge about the year 

 1880 at Barmston, near Sadberge.^ 



Both the sword and its scabbard are now in the 

 British Museum. The sword blade, which is of iron, 

 measures i foot 9 inches exclusive of the tang, and 

 making no allow^ance for the point of the blade, 

 which is somewhat defective. A solid bronze guard- 

 like termination still remains at the upper end of the 

 blade, pierced in order that the iron tang, now partly 

 broken off, might pass through it. The blade is 

 straight, and possesses two sharp edges and a well 

 developed mid-rib. The bronze sheath, or scabbard, 

 is handsomely shaped and ornamented with a late 

 Celtic pattern. Like most examples of its class it 

 presents features which show originality or novelty, 

 whilst on the other hand it has characteristics which 

 are common to the whole group to which it belongs. 

 The sheath is i foot 9I inches in length, and is pro- 

 vided with a bold, semi-circular loop for the strap 

 not far from the middle of the ornamental side. 

 This loop for suspension is the main feature of the 

 sheath and the cause of its ornamental additions. 

 The accompanying engravings will show how the 

 artist in bronze has continued the idea of the loop 

 in the form of ornamental straps or ribs extending 

 in both directions and ending, in both cases, in a 

 kind of square, flat plate. The result is a fine 

 piece of decorative outline rather than ornament in 

 minute detail. 



LATE-CELTIC SWORD AND SHEATH 

 FOUND AT BARMSTON NEAR SADBERGB 



CO. DURHAM, (j linear.) 



Ancient British Coin 



The only ancient British coin recorded by Sir John Evans as having been 

 found in the county of Durham is one of Tasciovanus struck at Verulam, 

 and inscribed ver, discovered in the Roman camp at South Shields.^ Sir 

 John Evans points out that the principal interest of the coin arises from its 

 having been found so far away from the territory of Tasciovanus. 



1 The circumstances of the discovery, as far as they are known, and as here given, have been recorded by 

 Mr. Charles H. Read, F.S.A. in the Proc. Soc. Antiq. 21 Nov. 1895 (znd Scr. xvi. pp. 4-7). 

 ' Ancient British Coins, p. 549. 



2og 



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