1906] 



The cruciform brooches of Norway. 



137 



rather before than after the end of the 5th cent. I think it al- 

 lowable to use this indication as a hint to the dating of the grave, 

 the more so as others of the antiquities found here - - two pins, 

 a girdle-ring, and an earthenware pot — point in the same direction. 

 From the indications thus afforded, the grave might be fixed late 

 in the 5th cent., but as some of the cruciform brooches (%s. 163 

 and 166) are typologically younger than the silver brooch with 

 spiral patterns, I am inclined to date the foundation of the grave 

 somewhat later, most probably to about the year 500 A. D. The 

 brooches from this grave should, consequently, be counted as con- 

 temporary Avith the specimen fig. 160, a supposition which agrees 

 well with the typologi- 

 cal state in both instan- 

 ces. The brooch fig. 1 63 

 only has the appearance 

 of being considerably 

 later than the others; 

 it must be remembered, 

 however, that it belongs 

 to the hybrid forms 

 which are always in- 

 clined to a faster de- 

 generation than the 

 genuine types. 



From the finds 

 quoted, we see that 

 the cruciform brooches 

 found in association 

 with early brooches in 

 relief, or counted as contemporary with them, all belong to a rather 

 advanced stage of the development. They might be signified as 

 middle forms, but partly declining already toAvards the last part of 

 the development. Generally such forms are to be dated to the 

 latter half of the 5th cent. and the time about 500 A. D. 



Fig. 165. Vi. 



As an appendix to my treatment of this period, I may briefly 

 mention a find from Mandal, though it is certainly of more interest 

 in respect to the typology than as a contribution to the chrono- 



