Notes on Objects from a Saxon Interment at Basset Down. 105 



of a later, this does not militate against the warriors having been Saxon. The 

 large round bead is rock-crystal. The ring is made of bone and has been 

 varnished. The rest of the beads are amber and glass." 



With regard to this account it is to be remarked that it is 

 impossible now to say whether the interments were the result of a 

 battle as here suggested, or whether the spot was a cemetery be- 

 longing to some neighbouring settlement. There is no doubt, 

 however, that they were of Saxon date, and therefore are of more 

 than usual interest to us in Wiltshire — for, though several Saxon 

 finds of great interest have been made in Wiltshire, such as the 

 jewellery found at Roundway Down, of which a portion is exhibited 

 on loan in our Museum, and the relics from the cemeteries at 

 Harnham and Kemble which have been described in Archceologia 

 (vols, xxxv., p. 259 and 475 ; xxxvii., p. 1), still in comparison 

 with the remains of the Celtic and even of the Roman period, the 

 remains of the pre-Christian Saxons are scarce in the county, and 

 we have almost nothing of that period in the Museum to balance 

 the magnificent collection of Celtic relics. I have, therefore, 

 thought it worth while to illustrate all the more important articles 

 of this find. 



No. 1. — The most perfect of the two iron shield bosses {umbo). 

 They are circular, 5|rn. in diameter, the conical spike in the centre 

 being 3f in. in height. The four round-headed rivets by which the 

 boss was attached to the wooden shield still remain. The other 

 boss is of the same shape, but is not nearly so perfect. The Saxon 

 shield was commonly circular, of light wood covered with hide. 

 The iron boss in the centre formed on the inside a cavity for the 

 hand. {Pagan Saxonciom, p. 20.) 



No. 2. — A small spear or javelin head of iron, 5|in. long. The 

 socket formed in the characteristic Saxon way by turning over the 

 edges, leaving an opening on one side. The blade is short and 

 almost flat. 



No. 3. — Spear-head of iron lOfin. long, of which the blade 

 measures 6Jin. The socket has remains of the wooden shaft in it 

 still. The blade is narrow and long with a slight ridge in the 

 centre on each side. 



