Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



277 



XLII. — On an Ancient Bronze Shield. By Heney "Welson, F. R. C. S., 



M.B.I. A. 



[Read Feb. 23, 1874.] 



This shield — an engraving of which, hy Mr. Hanlon, from a drawing 

 also hy him, is annexed — is circular in shape, and flat, having a central 

 conical boss or umbo for the hand. It measures twenty-six inches 

 across, and is composed of a very thin sheet of hammered bronze. 

 Between the central umbo and the periphery are twenty concentric 

 raised circles or rings with intermediate rows of small raised knobs : 

 these knobs being placed at intervals equal to their own diameter, 



and being most regular in size and shape. The edge or rim of the 

 shield is beautifully rounded off by the margin being turned inwards 

 and hammered from behind forwards, leaving a small hollow space 

 between the two surfaces. 



On either side of the central umbo is a rivet for fastening the 

 handle of the shield, and there are two holes midway between the 



