464 The Grave-mounds of Derbyshire, and their Contents. 



the rivets which attached it, as also those which attached the 

 leather, remained. Another fine example was found at Brush- 

 field, by the side of the body shown on page 460. It, too, 

 had been enclosed in a sheath of wood, which had been covered 

 with leather, ornamented with lines and lozenges. 



The shield was usually placed in Saxon interments over the 

 middle of the body, as indicated in the plan on page 460 ; but 

 of this, indications only were in this instance found. In the 

 Tissington barrow before spoken of, a portion of the edge of 

 the shield was found adhering to the sword, as shown in 



the engraving, and the umbone, or 

 central boss of the shield was also 

 found. This umbone, here engraved 

 is of iron, conical in form, and mea- 

 sures nine inches in height. It is 

 the largest yet found in Derbyshire, 

 and is in form similar to examples 

 found at Sibertswold, and in other 

 localities. "When found, the umbone 

 was surrounded with a mass of de- 

 cayed wood, the remains of the 

 shield, and small fragments of cor- 

 roded iron, which were, doubtless, a 

 part of its mountings. 



The knives found in the Derby- 

 shire barrows are of the general forms. 

 They are usually found, sometimes one and sometimes two, 

 lying by the skeleton on the opposite side from the sword, 

 though, in some instances, the knife and sword have been 

 found lying side by side, as in the interment on page 460. 



Spear heads also of iron are occasionally found. Two of 

 these, lying on the right side of the head, will be seen in the 

 engraving on page 460. They are short and socketed. 



One of the most remarkable objects of the Saxon era which 

 has been exhumed is the helmet already alluded to. This highly- 

 interesting relic was discovered by Mr. Bateman at Benty 

 Grange, in 1848. The barrow was of but slight elevation, and con- 

 tained the remains of a body which had been laid on the natural 

 surface of the earth, as already named. Among the articles 

 remaining- — for the body, with the exception of a portion 

 of the hair, had entirely disappeared — was the remarkable 

 helmet here engraved. This ' helmet " consists of a skeleton 

 formed of iron bands radiating from the crown of the head, 

 and riveted to a circle of the same metal, which encom- 

 passed the brow; from the impression on the metal it is 

 evident that the outside was covered with plates of horn, 

 disposed diagonally, so as to produce a herring-bone pattern. 



