21 



These articles were probably worn one on each breast, and there- 

 fore deserve; the name of maramillary brooches ; and very likely they 



like the pairs of dog-headed pins so fre- 

 We are fortnnate to possess so many as 



were connected by chains, 

 quently found in Sweden, 

 seven of these articles in our 

 Museum — four of which, Nos. 

 2404 and -5, 2420 and -21, 

 were found at Island bridge. 

 By those at all acquainted with 

 Irish archaeology or history, the 

 following passage from Mr. Wor- 

 saae's " Primeval Antiquities of 

 Denmark," in reference to these 

 brooches, will be read with as- 

 tonishment: — " That they are 

 positively to l K be referred to the 

 last period of Paganism we know 

 with complete certainty, because 

 they are frequently found in 

 graves in Ireland, which coun- 

 try was first 'peopled by Pagan 

 Norwegians at the close of the 

 ninth century." Now, they have 

 never been found in Irish graves; 

 and, as to the question of this 

 country having been first "peo- 

 pled" by Norwegians one thou- 

 sand years ago, it is quite un- 

 necessary to enter, as the state- 

 ment, if not an error of transla- 

 tion, is at utter variance with 



history. The average size of the opening of these convex brooches is 

 four inches by two and a half. The decorative lines are usually straight, 

 and the figures angular; but in that represented in the cut No. 2420 

 we have a rude representation of a soldier on each side, already re- 

 ferred to. 



The accompanying illustration, the true size, presents us with the 

 reverse side of a highly ornamented bronze strap buckle, upon which 

 there is a special and peculiar form of straight-line ornamentation, here- 

 tofore but seldom observed in antiquities found in Ireland. The front 

 presents a highly decorated casting, which was originally plated with 

 silver, and upon both sides the verdigris, with which it is partially 

 coated, is remarkably impressed with the indentation of a twilled woven 

 texture, probably woollen, and Avhich possibly grew into it while the 

 garment of the wearer still retained its integrity. Among the other 

 articles that may be classed as personal ornaments, there were found 



