The Viking Age (Vol. 1&2). Paul B. Du Chaillu
Fig. 477.—Wooden bowl. ⅙ real size.
Fig. 478.
Fig. 479.
Iron ferrules to scabbard, inlaid with flat hammered gold wire. ½ real size.
Fig. 480.—Wooden trough. ⅙ real size.
Fig. 481.
Fig. 482.—Ornaments of bronze plated with thin silver and gold. Real size.
Fig. 483.—Bit of bronze. ¼ real size.
Fig. 484.—Bit of iron. ¼ real size.
Fig. 485.—Double-edged damascened sword with silver handle. ⅕ real size.
Fig. 486.—Double-edged damascened sword. ⅕ real size.
Fig. 487.—Spiral bracelet of gold with triangular ornaments,½ real size, found in a bog near Horsens, Denmark.
Fig. 488.
Fig. 489.
Damascened iron sword,¼ real size, of the later iron age, with mounting for scabbard, made of silver, in relief work and gilt. Found in a bog near Slagelse on Zealand, Denmark.
Fig. 490.—Iron sword, with bronze handle,⅙ real size, found in a bog at Fremlöse, not far from the town of Odense, on Fyen, with fragments of two other iron swords, &c. Earlier iron age.
CHAPTER XIII.
NORTHERN RELICS—GROUND FINDS.
The custom of hiding objects—Discovery of numerous golden objects near the surface—Necklaces of gold—Golden horns discovered at Mögletönder—The Bangstrup find.
The objects found in the earth, and classified under the name of ground finds, are often not only very valuable but also very beautiful; in many instances they are of the same type and period as those of the bogs and graves. The custom of intentionally hiding objects which existed in the stone and bronze age lasted until the end of the Viking age, and one of the finest archæological fields in the whole of Scandinavia is that of Broholm, situated on the island of Fyen. These finds are divided into three principal groups, viz.:—Lundeborg, Gudme, and Elsehoved. Almost all the objects were so near the surface of the soil that they were discovered either when ploughing, or digging with a spade.
Fig. 491.—Denarius; Trajan (98–117). Broholm. Real size.
Fig. 492.—Fibula of bronze. Broholm. Real size.
Fig. 493.—Solidus: temp. Constantine II. (337–61), found near Hesselagergaard, Broholm, 1875. Real size.
Fig. 494.—Largest Neck-ring, Broholm. Heaviest rings, weight 3 lbs., 1 lb. 14½ oz., 1 lb. 2½ oz.; ½ real size. Among other objects discovered with this neck-ring were three other neck-rings, one weighing about 2 lbs. 2 ozs., another 1½ lb.; six pieces of massive gold belonging to neck-rings; six spiral gold rings; a spiral finger-ring of gold; bent gold bars probably used as money; and bracteates.
Fig. 495.—Roll of flat gold band.
Fig. 496.—Gold bead. Real size. Broholm.
Fig. 497.—Gold band.
Fig. 498.—Solidus: temp. Constantine II. Broholm. Real size.
Fig. 499.—Gold Neck-ring, from Hesselagergaard, Broholm. ⅗ real size.
Fig. 500.—Fibula of gold. Broholm. Real size.
Reverse of Fig. 500.
Fig. 501.—Hollow gold object, ornamented with cornelians, found at Lundeberg, Broholm. Real size.
Fig. 502.—Gold Mounting for sword scabbard. Real size. Broholm.
Reverse of Fig. 502.
Fig. 503.
Fig. 504.
Gold bracteates. Real size.
Fig. 505.—Mosaic bead. Real size.
Fig. 506.—Gold bracteate, showing fibula on the neck. Real size.
Fig. 507.—Gold ring used as money. Real size.