306 [Proc. B.N.F,C, 



from the Baltic shores. 6. Ear-rings or unasca — The ancient 

 Irish ear-rings are not unlike those used in modern days. 

 7. Armillce — Armlets and bracelets would appear to have been 

 extensively used. They usually consist of rings of gold not 

 quite closed, and the early annals state that royal princes 

 bestowed rings of gold on poets, philosophers, and warriors, and 

 that tribute was frequently paid in similar ornaments. 8. Fibulce 

 — There has been some difference of opinion as to the use of 

 these peculiarly-shaped gold ornaments, but the theory that 

 they were used as fasteners for cloaks, &c., would appear to be 

 the most reasonable one. The fibulce vary greatly in size, 

 weighing from seven ounces up to the extraordinary weight of 

 thirty-three ounces. 9. Torques must be considered as a 

 distinctive and common form of decoration among the ancient 

 Irish, but we know that they were similarly used by the 

 Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, &c. They in shape consist of 

 twisted bands, and according to their size were worn on the 

 finger, in the hair, round the neck or waist. In the celebrated 

 statue " The Dying Gladiator" there is a torque round the 

 neck, as also in the exquisite bronze statue of Mercury in the 

 British Museum. 10. Ring Money — It is probable that many 

 of the circular ornaments already described were used as a sort 

 of money, but there are certain small gold rings whose size 

 would preclude their use for anything else, unless indeed for 

 portions of chains. Mr. Dugan then entered into evidences 

 which point to a very early Oriental connection with Ireland, 

 and to a subsequent long period of social and artistic darkness. 

 But Ireland rose again like a phcenix, and from the fourth to 

 the eighth centuries of the Christian era was the light of 

 Europe. Reference was next made to the composition of the 

 gold ornaments, which varies from eighteen to twenty-one 

 carats fine. The alloy consists of silver and a little copper, 

 probably identical with that of the native ore from which they 

 have been manufactured. After recapitulating the evidence to 

 show that the Irish gold ornaments were manufactured in 

 Ireland., and out of Irish gold, the reader said that in researches 



