220 
PROCEEDIN'GS OF SOCIETIES. 
ornamented with, fine crossing lines. Remains of a thin plate of 
bronze were found adhering to the inside in several places, evidently 
an internal lining for strength. Near this was discovered a brooch of 
hollow bronze, and two large rings, arm-rings apparently, of wood. Two 
chariot wheels, of which the iron shoeing only remained, were placed 
upright on each side of the bronze vessel already described ; large frag¬ 
ments of the timber of which they were composed were found all around. 
At a foot lower were found the flags forming the roof of a lower sepul¬ 
chral chamber. In this were a wooden armlet, a buckle, a bronze brace¬ 
let, of somewhat elaborate construction, and fastened with a hook and 
eye; the umbo of a shield, fastened by thongs of leather to circles of 
bronze, exactly the same as the umbo found in Tomb III. The leather 
crumbled into dust on exposure to the air. 
Tomb IX.—On the top of this tumulus was a circular sunken space, 
about a foot deep, and seven in diameter. The interior of the tumulus 
consisted of a circular wall of stones, about from three to four feet high; 
the centre was filled with earth and lime, forming a cement so hard 
that it was broken with great difficulty. The Baron found here only 
charcoal, and two pieces of iron, which seemed the remains of a hook. 
From this circumstance he concludes that a tumulus of this construc¬ 
tion was intended only for the reception of the bodies of serfs, or the 
lower orders; whilst the tombs of kings or nobles were constructed alto¬ 
gether of stones and flags, the quantity of stones piled up upon the cairn 
being proportional to the rank of the deceased. 
Tomb X.—A large beech tree grew on the top of this mound, which 
rendered it necessary to open it at the side. After removing a large 
upright triangular stone of flint, large horizontal flags were discovered, 
on which lay two great armlets, of the same kind as those formerly 
described, both of wood, but broken and decayed; two bronze rings or 
bracelets for the wrist, and one, also in bronze, of the spiral form, being 
a bronze wire twisted several times in a spiral round the arm; a frag¬ 
ment of a bronze plate, with engraved ornamentation, a wooden ring, 
and a plate of bronze, bearing in relief a Greek cross. The existence of 
this ornament, worn probably on the breast or round the neck, seems to 
prove that this, and the other tombs of similar contents and construction, 
are to be assigned to the Christian period. 
It remains now to make some general remarks on these ancient 
sepulchres. 
There can be very little doubt that the steel sword, with its bronze 
scabbard; the gold chain of filigree work, and the gold bead, which 
seems to have belonged to it, were of Roman manufacture. Many simi¬ 
lar articles are to be found in the museums of Italy. The chariot of 
four wheels, ornamented with bronze trellis-work, is also most probably 
Roman, and M. de Bonstetten shows that it was a Roman custom to 
bury or burn shields, armour, chariots and harness, with the bodies of 
the illustrious dead: so Yirgil— 
“ Hinc alii spolia occisis derepta Latinis 
Conjiciunt igni, galeas, ensesque decoros, 
Frenaque, ferventesque rotas.”— JEn., lib. xi. 
