112 



Proceedings of the Roi/al Irish Acailemu. 



the time of the interment. The form of the swords can be seen iu fig. 1, 

 which shows an unusually long " sax " or single-edged sword (Wk. 20), and a 

 double-edged sword (Wlc. 7). 



Description of Swords. 



The hilt of bronze described by Sir William Wilde, No. 2361, is very 

 fine ; and sword-hilts analogous to this are rare. The handle portion of 

 bronze, which is inlaid with chevrons of white metal or silver, terminating 

 iu small circles, is beautifully wrought. Fig. 2 will show the pattern. 



Plate IV. No. 1 (Wk. 21, K. 2391) is the hilt of a double-edged sword of the 

 ordinary Norse type ; it was found at Island-bridge. It is broken into three 

 parts, and measures 38J inches in length. The ornamentation is of the 

 form of many silver strips beaten into groves in the iron, with a piece of 

 twisted silver wire between the upper and lower portion of the head : 

 compare IJygh, " Noreke Oldsager," p. 71. 



Ac^ 



djUj72/ 





Flo. 1.— Wk. T. Wk. -20. 



Fio. 2. — Decorated Brunze Sword-Uilt (^). 



Plate IV. No. 2 ( Wk. 15, R. 2358), also from Island-bridge, shows the same 

 type of hilt ; but the silver strips are prolonged into a pattern at each side ; it 

 has lost the silver wire between the two portions of the head ; it is broken, and 

 the upper portion of the blade is missing ; it measures 31| inches in length. 



Plate IV. No. 4(Wk. -3), from Kilmainham, diflers slightly in the shape of 

 the upper part of the heatl ; the silver is ornamented by a sort of chequer 

 pattern, aud bound by several silver wires which go over the head in two 

 places. The quillou is bound above and below by a single strand of twisted 



