Scotland in Pagan Times; The Iron AgeAnderson, Joseph
History
Scotland in Pagan Times; The Iron Age
Anderson, Joseph
Scotland -- Antiquities
All these armlets are of one special variety of form, penannular, with
expanded ends, having the exterior surface divided into three parallel
bands, the middle band stopping short at the circular opening in the
expanded extremity, and the bands on either side of it passing round the
openings to unite as one endless band.
[Illustration: Fig. 130.—Bronze Armlet, locality unknown, but probably
from Bunrannoch, Perthshire (4½ inches in diameter).]
[Illustration: Fig. 131.—Bronze Armlet. Back view.]
[Illustration: Fig. 132.—Plan of Ornamentation of Bronze Armlet.]
There is another variety of form exhibited by some armlets of this
character, which constitutes a link of connection [Illustration: Fig.
130.—Bronze Armlet, locality unknown, but probably from Bunrannoch,
Perthshire (4½ inches in diameter).] between them and an equally
remarkable class of armlets characterised by the same style of art, but
exhibiting in their form a more distinctly zoomorphic feeling. Of this
intermediate variety there are two specimens known in Scotland. The
locality of the first specimen (Fig. 130) is unknown, although there is
some probability that it may be one of the two previously mentioned as
having been found at Bunrannoch, in Perthshire. It [Illustration: Fig.
131.—Bronze Armlet. Back view.] measures 4¼ inches in its greatest
internal diameter, and 3 inches in greatest width across the middle of
the circular expansion at the extremity. Its weight is 31¾ oz. The
openings in the terminal expansions are smaller than in the other
armlets, and the projecting ornaments bolder and less uniform in
character. Seen from the back (Fig. 131) it presents an appearance so
similar to the form of those previously described that it is difficult
to detect the variation. But on comparing the plans of the armlet given
in outline (Fig. 132) with those of the other armlets (Figs. 120 and
123), the [Illustration: Fig. 132.—Plan of Ornamentation of Bronze
Armlet.] difference is apparent at a glance. By throwing the furrows
obliquely, which in the other armlets are parallel to the major axis of
the form, and by cutting off the marginal ridges abruptly at the
expansions of the rounded ends, the form of this armlet is changed into
the similitude of a continuous band folded back upon itself from the two
ends in opposite directions. Although it possesses no distinctly
zoomorphic character, it thus assumes a suggestively serpentine
appearance. This special variety of form is also exhibited by an armlet
(Fig. 133), found near Seafield Tower, in the neighbourhood of Kinghorn,
in Fife, which is at present exhibited in the Museum. Its ornament (Fig.
134) is somewhat different in character, and the projections less
prominent. It measures 5¼ inches in its longest diameter internally, and
2⅞ inches across the middle of the circular expansions at each
extremity.
[Illustration: Fig. 133.—Bronze Armlet found near Seafield Tower, Fife.
Front view, seen sideways (5¼ inches in diameter).]
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