734 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



perhaps, from determined quantities of the constituent metals, 

 if this supposition is correct, no infoiTaation can be derived fi'om 

 these analyses as to the geographical source of the surprising quantity 

 of gold found in the manufactured state in Ireland." In order to 

 decide this question, of the addition of other metals to the gold for 

 the production of the ornaments, with any degree of accuracy, it is 

 evident that more numerous analytical results are indispensable. 



If the admixture of other metals by the early Irish gold-workers 

 took place, as suggested, it would be a matter of interest to discover 

 whether the amount and quality of the alloy was fixed for any parti- 

 cular variety of ornament ; bu.t as yet a sufficiently extensive series of 

 assays and analyses have not been made to determine this point. The 

 results obtained and published by Mr, Mallet appear to be the only 

 record of any analyses of ancient Irish gold and silver ornaments. In 

 the present Paper, the author, therefore, submits to the Academy the 

 results of the analyses of a few gold and silver ornaments exhibited in 

 the Museum of the Eoyal College of Science, Dublin, as a small 

 addition to the analytical results already published. The specimens 

 examined, which were lent by the kind permission of the museum 

 authorities, were purchased from Joseph Huband Smith, Esq., July 

 16th, 1853, for the Museum of Irish Industry (now the Royal College 

 of Science Museum). 



The ornaments appear to have been complete when purchased,, 

 but some years later the majority of the gold articles in the collection 

 were stolen ; small fragments of some of the articles, however, being 

 left behind. It is to be regretted that the localities in which the 

 ornaments were found are unknown. 



The fragments examined, and the analytical results obtained, are 

 as follows : — 



Gold Oexameivis. 



Numher 1. — Fragment of one of the twisted "toeqxjes" supposed 

 to have been worn round the neck. These ornaments consisted of a 

 narrow strip, or band of thin plate gold, twisted so as to form a spiral, 

 and then bent into a circle. 



The band was broad in the centre, and tapering gradually towards 

 the ends where it terminated in small hooks, by means of which the 

 torque was clasped. The part examined consisted of one of the end 

 hooks : when entire the circle must have been from five to six inches 



